A 30-Year Legacy of Unwavering Advocacy
Champaign County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is a not-for-profit organization that recruits, trains, and monitors volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse and neglect.
In 1994, Champaign County CASA was incorporated with the full support of Circuit Court Judge John R. DeLaMar. Concerned that life-altering decisions were being made concerning abused and neglected children’s lives without sufficient information, he welcomed CASA volunteers into his courtroom and recognized their impact as an independent voice for each child. For more than 30 years, our team of volunteer advocates, professional staff, and expert attorneys have stood up for Our Kids in court and the community – giving them stability, hope, and the opportunity to thrive in a safe and permanent home.
Standing up for children in the court system who have experienced abuse and neglect.
2
Dedicated Expert Attorneys
9
Professional Staff
95
Active Volunteer Advocates
Because CASA works through the juvenile court system, we are able to facilitate prompt delivery of services and make independent recommendations to the court concerning the child’s well-being. In Champaign County, CASA is appointed as the guardian ad litem (GAL) to children with an open court case due to abuse and neglect. We consistently visit every child in their foster placement and make recommendations to the court based on our findings. Our volunteers work their cases with the support of our professional staff and expert attorneys, and as a team, CASA remains involved throughout the duration of a case until it is closed. As we move into our next 30 years, we are committed to providing unwavering advocacy for Our CASA Kids to help them through their situations.
For more than 3 decades, Champaign County CASA has stood up for Our CASA Kids in court and earned the trust of the court system. During that time…
750
Volunteer advocates have been trained and supported.
4,000
Children in 2,100 cases have been given a voice.
80
Community leaders have served on our board.
Champaign County CASA currently serves 330 children from newborn to 21 years old. Approximately 43% are under the age of 6. The generous investment of time and resources by members of our community makes our work possible.
Advocates are the eyes and ears for the court, talking, and most importantly listening, to children in care and all the adults involved – caseworkers, foster parents, teachers, counselors, family members and others. We can voice objective concerns and make recommendations to the judge based on facts and what we observe. Our court reports fill in the gaps and give children a voice in their case. We are passionate about the children we work with and are a consistent presence throughout the process, letting the children know they are important and deserve to be heard, protected, safe and loved.
