Dear CASA Supporter
An increasing number of children are entering foster care every year due to a complex mix of factors that may include the parent’s use of opioids, family financial hardship, mental health disorders, or domestic violence. Most of the time, it doesn't mean the children are unloved. It means their families need help. Foster care plays a pivotal role in helping put families back together.
May is National Foster Care Month, a time to acknowledge foster parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, child welfare professionals, and other members of the community who help children and youth in foster care find permanent homes and connections. During National Foster Care Month, we renew our commitment to ensuring a bright future for the more than 500 children and youth in foster care in Lake County, and we celebrate those who make a meaningful difference in their lives.
We want to ensure that children and families suffer the least amount of trauma possible through the foster care experience and that children are placed in permanent homes that are well-prepared to welcome them home. Let's put our children and families first, strengthen them where needed, and help keep them safe and healthy.
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Terri Zenner Greenberg
Executive Director
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There are Lake County children waiting for a CASA volunteer right now. Give the gift of a brighter future. Give a child a CASA.
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Your support makes an impact
In just the last month...
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244
Volunteers served as CASAs
375
children served by a CASA
15
children had cases close
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Kudos for some amazing CASA Volunteers!
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To
CASA Wendy for her continuous support and dedication for her CASA child. Wendy has developed a trusting relationship with the foster parents and the child’s mother. She has put great effort into getting services, such as therapy, for her CASA child. She has visited the child regularly each month, despite the long travel time to the foster home. Wendy’s recent court report was most informative, and helped provide the judge with a picture of the life of her CASA child.
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To
CASA Ingrid
for her patience and perseverance in visiting her CASA child. She has driven long distances multiple times on the eve of the child returning home so that she can observe her child and mother interacting together. A number of times after Ingrid drove for an hour, the mother did not show up. Ingrid has remained undeterred despite such frustrations and has been steadfast about focusing on the best interest of her CASA child.
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To
CASA Jodi,
who took a case of a teen boy three years ago. This was a difficult case, and Jodi was specifically requested to take it. She has done an outstanding job of seeing him through some difficult high school years, the birth of a child, and job training options. Jodi really is the one adult who consistently through every challenge has
had this young man’s back. Thank you, Jodi!
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What a Night--CASA's Silver Anniversary Gala!
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CASA's Silver Anniversary Gala on May 4th was a wonderful celebration of the 25 years of impact that our CASA volunteers have made on the abused and neglected children in our community.
In celebrating the 25 years of work of CASA Lake County, it was essential to recognize those who helped the organization support those efforts. For the evening, CASA's Board welcomed back our Terri Zenner Award Honorees from the previous 14 years. These individuals built the foundations for the Lake County CASA program to grow into the strong, stable organization that it is today.
We welcomed the voice of our CASA children to share a first-hand perspective on the needs of youth in the child welfare system and the impact that CASA volunteers had in their lives. Alison Myers, former CASA child, college graduate, and child welfare advocate offered her powerful story of the difficulties and opportunities for children in foster care.
The evening culminated with an incredible display of the generosity of our community members, as those in attendance contributed nearly $400,000 in support of CASA--enough to support dedicated advocates for over 150 children in the coming year.
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Our newest CASA volunteers completed their forty hours of training, and we sworn in on May 16th by the judges of the 19th Circuit Court.
We are so grateful for their dedication and passion in the classroom, and we are so grateful for the commitments they have made to serve the children to whom they are assigned.
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Emily Selbe, Juliann Boardman, Judge Morozin, Marissa Haas, Lauren Marwil, Rita Johnson, Carole Kagan, Marcia Cebula, Renee Morris, Veronika Kudina, Rebecca Deering
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CASA is currently seeking applicants for an Office Administrator position. If you or anyone you know might be interested in applying, please review the job description by following this link:
Job Posting
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Golf for a Child July 8th
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It's time to get your group together to golf for our CASA kids. CASA's Golf for a Child Invitational is an incredible opportunity to make a real and lasting difference and to have a great time while doing it.
Monday, July 8, 2019
Kemper Lakes Golf Club
Kildeer, Illinois
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Join the CASA Lake County Young Professionals Board on Sunday, June 30th at Dovetail Brewery from 2-5pm.
$35 tickets provide an open bar of Dovetail craft brews and light hors 'd oeuvres. Try your luck with drawings and games while helping to provide a caring CASA advocate for the children of our community who deserve our help.
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CASA Thanks Our 2019 Mission Partners
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Mission Statement
CASA Lake County is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children within the juvenile court system. Based on the belief that every child is entitled to a safe and permanent home, thoroughly trained CASA volunteers work in collaboration with key agencies, legal counsel and community resources to serve as the child's advocate and represent the child's best interest in juvenile court.
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700 Forest Edge Drive
Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061
847.383.6260
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