Dear CASA Supporter
It's not pleasant to think child abuse and neglect is happening right now in our beautiful community, but sadly, it is. We have all seen news recent stories that highlight just how catastrophic it can be. In just one year, we will serve over 500 children. I wish that number was zero, but as long as there are kids in need, I'm glad that we are able to provide CASA volunteers to advocate for them. It's taken years of growth to get to this point and we cannot slow down.
Each week, more children are added to our waiting list. They come from homes struggling with drug abuse, mental illness, domestic violence, and and a host of other challenges. To respond to the recent increase in the number of children in need, we added additional training opportunities and stepped up our recruiting efforts to find more community members who will volunteer to advocate for children.
We know our volunteers make a difference. We see it every day. But the thing that keeps me awake at night is what can happen to our children when there is no volunteer on a case. So we will keep our efforts strong and respond as needed so that every child has the benefit of an advocate.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and it also coincides with National Volunteer Month. Although our volunteers cannot undo the abuse and/or neglect that brought these children into care, they do help ensure that it doesn't happen again. If you are a CASA volunteer reading this - THANK YOU! If you know a CASA volunteer, I hope you will join me in thanking them! They are heroes in our community doing critical work every day. And if you are a CASA donor - THANK YOU - we can't do our work without your support.
Together, we all make a difference!
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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
353
children served by a CASA
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15
children had cases close
100%
with safe, permanent homes
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Kudos for some amazing CASA Volunteers!
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To CASA
Lynne for her outstanding advocacy during her first couple of months on her case. As a new advocate, Lynne took on a case with six children who were placed in two separate homes. Lynne has visited the children in both homes, and has been busy collecting various items of need for the children, such as shoes. She persevered in reporting on all six children, despite the fact that the foster mother for two of the children resisted involvement by CASA and additional parties, such as therapists.
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To CASA
Barb for her excellent advocacy which helped her child’s case close with a return home to mother. Barb advocated on behalf of her CASA child while he was in a foster home and then provided great support to the family when her CASA child was returned home. This was Barb’s fifth CASA case and she has already expressed a desire to take on another! Thanks Barb!
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To
Laura, a CASA since 2013, who has been on her case since that time. Laura has seen her two CASA children through seven placements, both residential facilities and foster homes. Laura truly epitomizes the CASA saying of “the one constant in a child’s life.” This has proven to be a very difficult and emotional case and Laura has handled it beautifully.
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Our newest CASA volunteers completed their forty hours of training, and we sworn in on March 14 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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Tina Grubesic-Ibrisevic, Tom Hynes, Krystal Topps, Judge Ceckowski, Judge Morozin, Sue Fowler, Alison Kotlarz, Laura Schwartz, Debi Ward. Not pictured: Claudia Ochoa.
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Illinois CASA Staff Member of the Year, Elizabeth Sammann, accepting her award at the 2019 Illinois CASA Conference.
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Congratulations Elizabeth!
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Congratulations to our ALL-STAR Advocate Manager
Elizabeth Sammann, who was recognized by the
Illinois CASA Association as Staff Member of the Year for all of Illinois!
Elizabeth is a supportive mentor to all of her CASA Volunteers, often taking on some of the most challenging, complex cases our program encounters. She has also gone beyond the call of duty in coordinating outreach events to recruit desperately-needed foster parents for our Lake County children in care.
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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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The Illinois CASA Association has made progress in their efforts to secure more state funding for CASA programs. The time has come to mobilize in support of HB2497. The bill passed through the House on April 9th with a vote of 113-0. HB2497 has moved on to the Senate and has been assigned to the calendar.
It’s time to call or email your Senators and ask them to sign on as a sponsor.
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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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