The Illinois CASA Association is the organizing body for CASA in Illinois. As a state association, National CASA has charged Illinois CASA with three basic responsibilities: provide ongoing technical assistance to existing CASA programs, manage the National CASA Quality Assurance program and establish new local CASA programs according to National CASA standards. Illinois CASA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and is managed by an Executive Director and employs a Regional Representative and a Program Specialist. Illinois CASA has a working office in Peoria, as well as a presence in Springfield and you can reach us by phone and e-mail.
The Illinois CASA Association is the organizing body for CASA in Illinois. As a state association, National CASA has charged Illinois CASA with three basic responsibilities: provide ongoing technical assistance to existing CASA programs, manage the National CASA Quality Assurance program and establish new local CASA programs according to National CASA standards. Illinois CASA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and is managed by an Executive Director and employs a Regional Representative and a Program Specialist. Illinois CASA has a working office in Peoria, as well as a presence in Springfield and you can reach us by phone and e-mail.
Mission: Illinois CASA champions children by supporting, uniting, and growing local programs to provide a court appointed volunteer advocate for abused and neglected children throughout the State.
Operating as usual
Fort Worth, TX -- Leadership of the Fort Worth-based Shaken Baby Alliance announced today they are reviving a 61-year American tradition by hosting a national Labor Day Weekend fundraising and awareness building telethon on Saturday. The We Love Kids Virtual Telethon will be an eight-hour virtual event streamed to Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch, and will feature entertainers from around the country and speakers about their cause.
https://armchairtelethon.com/welovekidstelethon/
A back-to-school message from the National CASA CEO Tara Perry.
Here's how CASA/GAL programs are keeping volunteers engaged around the country during the pandemic.
Protecting children is a responsibility we all share. It is important for every person to take child abuse and neglect seriously, be able to recognize it and know what to do next. If you have reason to believe a child you know is being abused or neglected, call the DCFS Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873).
Register today for Illinois CASA webinar.
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Happy National Nonprofit Day! Today we celebrate the positive impact nonprofits have on our communities. We’re proud to be a nonprofit with a history of advocating for some of our nation’s most vulnerable children. To learn more about what we do, visit www.illinoiscasa.org
Court Appointed Special Advocates® (CASA) are community volunteers, just like you, who stand up and speak out to help abused and neglected children.
“It is vitally important for parents and caregivers to learn and use the ABCs of Safe Sleep,” said Illinois DCFS Acting Director Marc D. Smith. “A baby should sleep Alone, on his or her Back, in a safe Crib – it’s that simple. If parents of young children are traveling, they should call to make sure their accommodations include a crib or bring a ‘pack and play’ to their hotel or relatives’ residence if one is not going to be available.”
Illinois DCFS Reminds Parents of the ABCs of Safe Sleep CHICAGO - Unsafe sleep is a leading cause of death for...
This means honoring the expertise of lived experience, ending failed policies, investing in long-term infrastructure, and providing tangible support to historically disinvested and marginalized communities, particularly communities of color.
To more fully achieve a pledge to do "right by kids, families and communities," the Pritzker administration should take a serious look at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
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“Prior to COVID-19, no communities in the country could say they had more than enough foster families,” Tyndall said. “Just a few weeks ago, communities were scrambling to find enough foster families because of the opioid epidemic. When you layer COVID-19 on top of that, the crisis becomes just that much more challenging.”
Foster care system planning for surge post coronavirus
For older children, this instability can undercut their education, as each move typically results in changing schools. And both long stays and frequent placement changes reduce a child’s chances of ever returning home to their biological families or being adopted.
Visits between foster children and their biological families are being disrupted and reunification hearings delayed.
Hispanic and Black children, in particular, were much more likely to require hospitalization for COVID-19, with Hispanic children about eight times as likely as white children to be hospitalized, while Black children were five times as likely.
One out of three children hospitalized for the coronavirus was admitted to the intensive care unit, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, analyzing data from 14 states.
#ActionAlert #SupportingFosterYouth
Read the attached letter and sign on to support our kids. #ShareWithYourFriends
Please find the letter text below and a PDF of the letter text at https://bit.ly/3a2Jmtl. Email Steven Olender at [email protected] with any questions. —————— The Honorable Danny K. Davis Chairman Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support Committee on Ways and Means U.S. Hous...
As the virus continues to rage across the country, it is vital for child welfare workers to have regular in-person contact with at-risk children, those who study child abuse say. The pandemic has cut many children off from routine interactions with teachers, counselors and doctors who are required by law to report signs of abuse or neglect.
Scores of investigations into allegations of abuse or neglect have been delayed or sharply curtailed during the coronavirus pandemic, records and interviews show.
“In March, I stopped all in-person visits," Dowd said. "We thought the best thing for these children is Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, or any sort of video where they can have eyes on the child is most important."
COVID-19 is changing the way people interact with each other, especially kids who come from abused and neglected homes. Volunteers with the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program have limited their in-person interactions due to the pandemic, but some are still finding ways to check in. &ld...
RETHINKING THE STATE RESPONSE TO YOUTH IDENTIFIED AS SEXUALLY OFFENDING
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
This workshop will address research on why children/youth engage in problematic sexual behaviors, the impact of current practice and successful treatment approaches. It will also examine registry laws and explore implications for child welfare and delinquency advocates.
Presenters for this webinar are Anita Weinberg, Director, ChildLaw Policy Institute and Lisa Jacobs, Manager, Loyola's Center for Criminal Justice Research, Policy and Practice.
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cD7KRZlWQEOVmcfefloMfw
State Representative Lindsey LaPointe
Join us July 10 at 11am for our next virtual event with Illinois CASA to highlight the work being done by the organization and the critical need for volunteers. Court Appointed Special Advocates are community volunteers who advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in courtrooms and communities.
“They get no pay whatsoever, and they are just amazing what they do for these children and the relationships that they have,” Gaige said. “Our CASA volunteers go above and beyond the call of duty. Sometimes they take clothes when they see a need, one has even bought a bus ticket so the child could go see her brother. It’s truly above what we ask them to do.”
Libby Gaige of Jacksonville came out of retirement to take the toughest job she'll ever love. Gaige is the Morgan Country volunteer coordinator for the Court Appointed Special Advocate program, and the people she oversees are the official representatives of children who have been removed from their....
The fact that kids are home all the time, living with parents who are accused of abuse, has added another challenge to the job — caseworkers can’t talk to them at school and are instead asking them to take a walk or talk on the porch.
Court-appointed special advocates are relying on the phone and internet to check up on Colorado foster children during the coronavirus pandemic.
Join us today for Give DeKalb County as we raise money to support CASA’s advocacy of the abused and neglected children in our community. Visit givedekalbcounty.org and choose CASA.
Join us today for Give DeKalb County as we raise money to support CASA’s advocacy of the abused and neglected children in our community. Visit givedekalbcounty.org and choose CASA.
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“After the shutdown, we all anticipate the number of youth in care are going to increase. We’ve heard everything from five percent to fifteen percent,” said Mari Christopherson.
ILLINOIS (WMBD) — More than 7,000 children are being advocated for by Illinois CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) advised through programs and volunteers. Over a Zoom call Wednesday, le…
“Our volunteers are needed to advocate for children and families now more than ever, not only to help judges make the most well-informed decisions for children and their families, but to build a system of support around children at this difficult and unprecedented time,” Perry said.
The coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent shutdown has put family reunification hearings across the country on hold.
“We’re still getting appointed to cases,” she said. “Even though the courts are closed, there are those emergency cases that are coming in. And we need volunteers.”
With children away from the public eye during the shelter in place period, it’s more important than ever to be on the lookout for signs of neglect or abuse
Educators are the primary source of reports (20 percent) to child protective services nationwide. A teacher might see slap marks on a student’s face and make a report to authorities when the child, afraid of being taken away from his or her parents, provides inconsistent explanations for the injuries.
This crisis has created conditions for a rise in violence that young victims will find difficult to escape.
"Many people want to respond with it is not happening in my home, but the reality is it (abuse and neglect) does affect everyone," explained Livingston. "You know I have three children and I know my kids are connected to some of these other kids that may be going through abuse and neglect." https://www.wandtv.com/news/children-more-at-risk-for-abuse-neglect-amid-covid-19-pandemic/article_5b7a4ecc-7431-11ea-b4fd-07bb6de67af5.html
MACON COUNTY, Ill. (WAND) - The number of hot line calls for child abuse and neglect is down nearly 45 percent in the state of Illinois, according to Macon County
Advocacy from a Distance: In the midst of this unprecedented pandemic, children and families are struggling to make it through each day, one day at a time. Many of our families, already engaged with the child welfare system prior to COVID-19, will have an even more difficult time than the average family. Fortunately, CASA volunteers can still be strong supporters and advocates for the children they are appointed to and their families, while still observing social distancing and self-quarantining protocols.
The Illinois CASA network of 32 Local Programs are stepping up their contacts with children in new and creative ways with a shared mission to make weekly contact with families and children. We are also reaching out to former youth in care to let them know know they have a caring adult connection.
Please support youth in care, Illinois's most vulnerable children. All donations will go directly to benefit our children. If you want your donation to go to a specific county or local program email [email protected] with your donation information.
Even though you might be inside wearing your CASA clothing is still super cool. Get yours today.
Livingston said right now, they are concerned not only about children in the court system, but children in general. She said calls to the DCFS hotline are down by 45 percent. While many would think this is a good thing, Livingston said this means abuse could be going up reported. As more children are out of the public eye of grocery stores and schools, not as many people are seeing the warning signs of abuse. This is what is causing them to be concerned. https://www.wcia.com/news/casa-finds-new-ways-to-support-children-and-families/
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — One Macon County group is all about looking after kids in the court system. Now they are coming up with ways to still do that, even when they cannot see them face-to-fa…
April 1st 2020 starts Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Call the 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline at 800-25-ABUSE (800-252-2873 or TTY 1-800-358-5117) if you suspect that a child has been harmed or is at risk of being harmed by abuse or neglect.
If you believe a child is in immediate danger of harm, call 911 first. Your confidential call will not only make sure the child is safe, but also help provide the child’s family the services they need to provide a safe, loving and nurturing home.
Illinois CASA's cover photo
April 1st 2020 starts Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Call the 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline at 800-25-ABUSE (800-252-2873 or TTY 1-800-358-5117) if you suspect that a child has been harmed or is at risk of being harmed by abuse or neglect.
If you believe a child is in immediate danger of harm, call 911 first. Your confidential call will not only make sure the child is safe, but also help provide the child’s family the services they need to provide a safe, loving and nurturing home.
Pinwheels are starting to get planted! Be sure to mark your calendars to wear blue and post a picture on Friday for #WearBlueDay. Sponsor a pinwheel for $10 and learn more at casa4kids.org/pinwheels. 💙
Dramatic Drop In Reports Prompts Worries That Children Are Being Neglected, Abused During COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Order
As we practice social distancing to combat the coronavirus, there was some fear and worry Tuesday night that some children are being neglected – if not abused – during the stay-at-home mandate in the fight against coronavirus.
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Illinois CASA Facts CASA volunteers are officers of the court and appointed by a judge to serve as a special advocate to a child adjudicated as abused and/or neglected. A CASA or guardian ad litem advocates for the purpose of representing the child’s best interest. In FY 12, there were 106,206 children reported to be victims of abuse and neglect in Illinois. This means that 30 out of every 1,000 children in Illinois were abused. Tragically, 90 children in Illinois died from abuse or neglect. In 2012, there were over 2,517 CASA volunteers contributing over 170,177 volunteer hours for 5,716 children. This is equivalent to $271,578,592 in taxpayer dollars (based on a minimum attorney's fee of $110 per hour) to advocate for abused children in juvenile and family courts in Illinois. With local programs in only 36 out of Illinois' 102 counties, CASA provides a volunteer advocate for only 38% of the state's abused and neglected children. Illinois is one of only seven states that do not fund their CASA programs. Each CASA program is a separate nonprofit organization that relies heavily on community support to provide services. For more information about CASA visit: nationalcasa.org or illinoiscasa.org.
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Last Monday, Illinois CASA CEO, Mari Christopherson, stood with Senator Robert J. Peters to announce Illinois CASA grant that we received from our National Organization to recruit new volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in Cook County and the Collar Counties. Please like a share this annoucement to all of your friends so we can be #CASASTRONG #ChangeAChildsStrory For more information about Illinois CASA please visit www.illinoiscasa.org
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