Heartland CASA

08/27/2026

Heartland CASA is now enrolling for our upcoming Fall Pre-Service Training classes in Macon and Christian Counties. No special background required - just compassion, commitment, and a willingness to speak up for a child in your community.

Two opportunities. One powerful way to make a difference.

Macon County
Thursdays, September 10–October 15 | 5:30–8:30 PM
Heartland CASA | 141 S. Main, Ste. 722, Decatur

Christian County
Mondays, October 19–November 23 | 5–8 PM
Taylorville Public Library | 121 W. Vine St, Taylorville

Enroll today at iheartcasa.org/volunteer or call 217-428-8424.

08/25/2026

Behind every number is a child and behind every CASA volunteer is someone who chose to show up.

Heartland CASA’s July 2026 data reflects both meaningful progress and the continued need across Macon, DeWitt, Christian, and Moultrie Counties:

• 341 children had a CASA at the end of July
• 56 active CASA volunteers were serving our program
• 11 children’s CASA cases closed during July including 9 children who achieved permanency through adoption

At the same time, our service area had 612 pending abuse and neglect cases. The need for caring, consistent adults remains significant.

CASA volunteers do more than attend meetings or submit reports. They listen, gather information, advocate for children’s needs, and remain a steady presence during an uncertain chapter of a child’s life.

You do not need a legal or social-work background to become a CASA volunteer. You need compassion, dependability, and a willingness to speak up for a child.

Learn more at www.iheartcasa.org.

08/17/2026

CASA MYTH #2

“If I become a CASA, will I have to take a child into my home?” It's a question we often hear, and it's an important one.

CASA and foster care are two very different ways of supporting a child. You don't have to open your home to become a CASA Advocate. What you bring is your time, your voice and your commitment to one child. And that's something every child deserves.

To learn more about becoming involved with Heartland CASA, comment below or contact Lori McDaniel at 217-428-8424 or [email protected].

08/13/2026

WHAT DOES A CASA ADVOCATE ACTUALLY DO?

When a child experiences abuse or neglect and enters the child welfare system, their life can suddenly become filled with caseworkers, attorneys, therapists, caregivers, court hearings and decisions about their future.

That's where a CASA Advocate comes in. A judge appoints a CASA to get to know the child, listen to their story, gather information and advocate for their best interests....but a CASA is more than another person involved in a case. They are

Someone who chooses to show up.
Someone who knows the child.
Someone who listens.
Someone who pays attention.
Someone who speaks up.
Most importantly... someone who KEEPS showing up.

Could you be that person?

To learn more about how showing up can matter for a child in your community, comment below or contact Lori McDaniel at 217-428-8424 or [email protected].

08/12/2026

Today, Heartland CASA celebrated a milestone we have been working toward for months — the swearing-in of Moultrie County’s first class of CASA advocates. ❤️💙

At the Moultrie County Courthouse, Judge Jeremy Richey welcomed Christine G., Rita F., Ann S., Mitzi H., Melissa K., Kayla T., Becky C., and MaryAnn H. as they took their oaths and officially became Heartland CASA advocates.

This inaugural class represents the beginning of CASA advocacy in Moultrie County. Each advocate has invested their time in learning about the child welfare system, the court process, and what it means to advocate for a child whose circumstances are often anything but simple. Today, all of that preparation became official.

We are incredibly proud of these eight advocates and grateful for the commitment they have made to the children and families they will serve. We are equally grateful to the six Heartland CASA staff members who helped make this first Moultrie County class possible. It truly took a team to get us to this day.

Thank you Judge Richey for welcoming Heartland CASA into the Moultrie County Courthouse and for being part of such an important milestone for our organization and the community.

Moultrie County’s first class is officially sworn in — and we could not be more proud.

08/11/2026

CASA MYTH #1: “I need a degree or experience in social work to become a CASA.” NOT TRUE!

CASA Advocates come from many different backgrounds, professions, and stages of life. You don't need to already understand the child welfare or court system — that's what our training is for.

Our training provides the knowledge and tools you need to understand your role as an advocate, including the court process, child development, trauma, mental health, substance use, cultural competence and more. But here's the thing:

We aren't looking for another professional to add to a child's team. We're looking for a normal person who is willing to show up.

A child may already have caseworkers, attorneys, therapists, teachers and other professionals involved in their life. A CASA brings something different — a consistent, trusted adult who is there simply because they choose to be there for that child.

You don't have to have all the answers.

You don't have to have the perfect background.

You just have to be willing to listen, learn, care and show up.

Could you be the one who shows up?

Want to learn more about becoming a CASA Advocate? Comment below or contact Lori McDaniel at 217-428-8424 or [email protected].

08/10/2026

Every child deserves someone in their corner.

Someone who listens.
Someone who pays attention.
Someone who speaks up.
Someone who keeps showing up.

That's the heart of being a CASA Advocate. You don't have to have all the answers. You don't have to have a background in child welfare. You simply have to care about children and be willing to show up. Could you be the one who shows up?

Fall training classes are beginning soon in Decatur and Taylorville.

To Enroll or learn more, comment below or contact Lori at 217-428-8424 or [email protected]

08/04/2026

It's back-to-school season—a fresh start filled with new possibilities!

As families settle into new routines, one thing remains true...Showing up matters.

Whether you're packing lunches, helping with homework, cheering from the sidelines, or simply being there at the end of a long day, the time you invest in a child is never wasted. The love, encouragement, and consistency you give today become the memories they carry for a lifetime.

As you celebrate the beginning of a new school year, we hope you'll also think about the children in Macon, DeWitt, Christian, and Moultrie Counties who are still waiting for someone to show up just for them.

That's what Heartland CASA Advocates do. They become a consistent, caring presence for children in foster care, ensuring they have someone in their corner when they need it most....Because every child deserves someone who shows up.

To learn more about how you can become involved, visit iheartcasa.org or call 217-428-8424.

07/10/2026

More than 240 children across Macon, DeWitt, Christian, and Moultrie counties are waiting for a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)—someone who will listen, show up, and stand beside them during one of the most difficult times in their lives.

If you've been thinking about becoming a CASA volunteer, don't wait. Check out our three upcoming summer training opportunities below and take the first step toward changing a child's story.

Whether you prefer daytime or evening classes, in person or by Zoom, there's a training option designed to fit your schedule.

If these dates,times or locations don't fit your schedule, don't let that stop you! Heartland CASA offers additional training opportunities throughout the year, along with flexible guided learning options designed for busy lives.

Remember—every child deserves someone who listens, shows up, and never gives up. Could you be the one who shows up?

For information about these or future training opportunities, or to learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer, contact Lori McDaniel at [email protected] or call 217-428-8424.

07/09/2026

Thank you so much to the Golden K Kiwanis Club of Decatur for having Blaine at your meeting to share about CASA! Your kindness, compassion, and passion for children is admirable. Thank you.

Our speaker for the 7/8/26 meeting was Blaine Smith, Executive Director of Heartland CASA. She spoke about being a CASA volunteer and how they serve the children.