About the Program
The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program of McLean County is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of abused and neglected children from our community through volunteer advocacy. Community members are trained to advocate for these McLean County children living in foster care. We strive to provide a CASA for as many foster children that we can, but we need your help!
Community Members Committed to the Children of the Community
CASAs are trained volunteers from our community who are committed to making a difference in a child's life. A CASA volunteer may be a stay-at-home mom or dad, a corporate employee, a nurse, a retiree, a teacher, a lawyer - anyone interested in advocating for children who are living in foster care, through no fault of their own. Each of our volunteers has varying backgrounds, experiences, and educations.
Application & Volunteer Process
Each CASA volunteer participates in a thorough application process. Background checks are completed on each volunteer and a personal interview and character references are required. Once accepted into the training portion of the program, volunteers participate in 30 hours of intensive training.
If then accepted by the program and the Court, CASA volunteers become sworn officers of the court to advocate for a specific child. Participation in continuing education opportunities and in-services is a requirement of the volunteer commitment.
Legal Note: CASA volunteers are appointed according to Illinois Juvenile Court Act 705 ILCS 405/2-17.1. Specifically, the Court appoints CASA Volunteers to investigate, ascertain, and advocate for the best interests of the respondent minor(s).