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What is CASA?
 CASA is an acronym for Court Appointed Special Advocates. Court Appointed Special Advocates are volunteers that are trained and supported by paid CASA staff to monitor the court cases of children from birth to eighteen years of age, who have been adjudicated as abused, neglected and/or dependent. Once trained, volunteer advocates are assigned to observe a child's case through its duration resulting from a formal court order (normally 18 months to 3 years). Advocates voluntarily follow the cases and report their findings to juvenile court judges through objective, fact-based written reports; providing information about the child’s life, foster placement, stress in the family, a child’s medical ailment, educational needs or a need for glasses or acne treatment. This knowledge serves to better inform judges who are then able to make educated dispositions about each child's placement and treatment needs and permanency in a more timely manner.
History:
CASA of DuPage County, Inc., was founded in April of 1993 when it entered into a formal agreement with the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court, DuPage County, Illinois. During its first year of operation, CASA of DuPage County, Inc. supported 15 volunteer advocates who were the voices for 33 abused and neglected children. A total of 340 children benefited from a CASA Advocate during FY2009, with 120 volunteers serving as advocates. FY2009 Accomplishments:
· Trained 51 community volunteers as Advocates from the communities of Aurora, Bartlett, Bolingbrook, Burr Ridge, Carol Stream, Chicago, Darien, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Lisle, Lombard, Naperville, North Aurora, Roselle, Schaumburg, West Chicago, Westmont, Wheaton, Winfield and Woodridge.
· CASA was appointed to 100% of abuse and neglect cases originating within the DuPage County juvenile court system, serving 340 children.
· 90 Children had their cases closed by the court:
· 46 were returned to biological family;
· 4 were emancipated;
· 8 were adopted;
· 12 were awarded subsidized guardianship;
· 15 had their cases dismissed;
· 5 were transferred out of DuPage County.
CASA cultivated on-going cooperative relationships with those involved in the court system - judges, DCFS case workers, attorneys, educators, and community agencies, bringing an in-depth awareness and a fresh perspective to the assigned cases.
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Wednesday, September 08, 2010
