NEWS - MARCH 2010 - GOLF INVITATION MATERIALS - CASA of DUPAGE COUNTY, INC.

CASA of DuPage County is holding its Superheroes Golf Outing on Monday, May 24th 2010 at the
Arrowhead Golf Club
26w151 Butterfield Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60189
630-653-5800

(download pdf of full registration materials)

CASA of DuPage County Inc. is located in the DuPage County Judicial Center in Wheaton, but we serve all 45 towns in DuPage County. CASA is an acronym for Court Appointed Special Advocates. Court Appointed Special Advocates are volunteers who are trained and supported by paid CASA staff to monitor court cases of children from birth to twenty-one years of age, who have been adjudicated as abused, neglected and/or dependent. By way of a formal court order, trained volunteer advocates are assigned to observe a child's case through its duration (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 which provide information about the child’s life, foster placement, stress in the family, any medical ailments and educational needs. This knowledge serves to better inform the judges who are then able to make educated decisions about each child's placement, treatment needs and permanency in a timelier manner.

In fiscal year 2009, CASA of DuPage County was appointed to a record high number of 338 abuse and neglect cases originating within the DuPage County juvenile court system. CASA trained 51 community volunteers last fiscal year bringing the total of trained advocates up to 156 strong. CASA of DuPage is highly regarded by the judges involved and is appointed to 100% of the abuse and neglect cases entering the juvenile court system. CASA continuously and diligently strives to cultivate and maintain these cooperative and collaborative relationships. CASA’s work with the circuit court judges, DCFS case workers, attorneys, educators, and community agencies brings an in-depth awareness and a fresh perspective to the assigned cases. Since CASA of DuPage County’s inception, 638 local citizens have been trained to advocate on behalf of 1,159 children in this community.

Studies have shown CASA volunteers to be effective in reducing court costs, reducing stays in foster care and even in reducing rates of delinquency. A study conducted by the National CASA Association showed that children with a CASA volunteer spent approximately one year less in care than a child without a CASA resulting in a child finding a safe, loving and permanent home more quickly. All of these efforts are provided at no charge to the families or taxpayers in DuPage County. While there are CASA programs in all states, Illinois is one of seven states that does not support the CASA organizations with federal money. That said, CASA of DuPage County is 100% dependent on fundraising, grants and individual donations. There are 102 counties in the state of Illinois with only 38 of them having a CASA program. Current numbers reflect that only 19% of abused and neglected children in Illinois are receiving assistance via a CASA, but 100% of the children in DuPage County receive this critical representation.

The serious work that CASA of DuPage performs each and every day on behalf of all neglected and abused children in DuPage County flies under the radar of the majority of the residents in our local communities. The average person will never need or hear about our organization or our very important role in the community. As we like to say at CASA, we are not looking for more clients, we are looking for more friends, because powerless children need powerful friends.

Visit CASA's website for more information.