CASA of DuPage County, Inc.

Goal 1 - Ensure 100% of the children in DuPage County juvenile court are appointed a CASA advocate. This can be measured by court reports of juvenile abuse and neglect cases. Although the number of children entering juvenile court cannot be predicted, we estimate 300-350 children will be served, 80% of these children will have resided in households with domestic violence, mental health concerns, and/or substance abuse issues.

Goal 2 - Ensure children's physical and mental health needs are met. CASA advocates are trained in trauma informed care and recognize child's behaviors indicating they may benefit from mental or physical health services. The advocate will include this in the court report resulting in the judge issuing a court order for services. CASA advocates assure access to care by assisting with finding care providers, transportation and scheduling appointments.

Goal 3 - Provide educational advocacy connecting children with community services. In addition to immediate and extended family members, CASA advocates connect with teachers and caregivers. Tutoring, counseling, or special assistance needed is in the court report, and court orders are issued. The CASA assists with connecting children with educational support services and other community services including sports programs, life skills classes, etc.

CASA of DuPage County provides a trained community volunteer who becomes the most consistent concerned adult in the child's life. Advocates help ensure each child's best interests, well-being, and safety. CASA's professional staff must maintain a high standard of quality volunteers, who are carefully screened and trained with CASA's evidence-based service model. Each volunteer must be properly screened, background checked and interviewed to be sure they are the right fit for the program. Once accepted, they attend a 30-hour training program to help prepare them to understand their responsibilities to the child and to the court system. There is a significant amount of information to cover, as each case, each child, each family is different. Each CASA advocate is appointed a CASA staff supervisor who carefully and intentionally works to match each volunteer's experience with the cultural and emotional needs of each child and closely supervises advocates to help them navigate the child welfare system and connect children with community services.

Volunteers are recruited, trained, and supervised by CASA of DuPage County's professional staff, including four staff advocate supervisors who manage a caseload of 35-50 volunteers, serving 75-90 children each. They are overseen by a Program Director who also manages all new volunteer recruitment, training, and ongoing education for the volunteer advocates. These professional staff members have the knowledge and expertise to assist the volunteers to navigate various complicated situations and challenging family dynamics they are facing. CASA advocate supervisors have built strong community connections with service providers for counseling, food, housing and furniture assistance, tutoring, and other essential needs. Once a child/family is connected with CASA of DuPage, they have the opportunity to receive ample services from our partners in the community.

Each CASA volunteer is required to complete background checks, fingerprinting and interviews; followed by an initial training program. They are also expected to complete at least 12 hours of continuing education annually. CASA of DuPage County provides a large number of the education programs, in addition, all volunteer advocates can participate in CASA training offered by National CASA and Illinois CASA.

CASA of DuPage County has a 30-year history in providing victim advocacy to abused and neglected children in the DuPage County court system. The programming staff has longevity, the four advocate supervisors have all been with CASA for more than seven years and the program director has been with CASA for 20 years. CASA DuPage also has a consistent and respectful connection to and partnership with the legal and child welfare professionals involved in juvenile court.

This ongoing program will be sustained through CASA's strong board of directors, dedicated volunteers, and committed staff. Each of these groups believe in and embrace the mission of the organization. Revenue from special events, individual donors and private foundations has remained consistent, and supported this programming.

The number of children who will be served in the future is unknown, but every child in these circumstances deserves to have a CASA to represent their best interests. It is essential that all active advocates remain current
and in compliance with standards and new volunteers are identified, screened and trained to ensure that a highly trained advocate is available to be assigned to each new case that comes into the system.

CASA works closely with the child welfare team, the DuPage County Judiciary, the State's Attorney's Office, and numerous nonprofit and social service welfare agencies. CASA of DuPage County is often at the center of
communication and networking with the appropriate agency that can provide services the child and family needs.

DuPage CASA is also an active member of the National and Illinois CASA Associations where conferences are attended and participants have the opportunity to learn and share best practices with other CASA programs.
CASA of DuPage County is active locally with many social service and community groups including Rotaries, Kiwanis clubs, chambers and other service clubs that also provide volunteers, funding and in-kind items.

CASA of DuPage County has been serving juvenile victims of abuse and neglect for 30 years and currently is operating a successful evidence-based program model with proven results. The program is one of 31 Illinois State CASA programs and one of nearly 1,000 nationwide. CASA of DuPage County is an active member of both the State and National CASA organizations and operates its juvenile abuse and neglect program in compliance with CASA program standards. DuPage County CASA is appointed to every juvenile abuse and neglect case as according
to Illinois statute. During 30 years of service, CASA of DuPage has provided court appointed special advocates for more than 3,000 children in DuPage county.