Who We Are

Court Appointed Special Advocates is a national association in the United States that supports and promotes court-appointed advocates for children who have been abused or neglected. CASA are volunteers from the community who complete training that has been provided by the state or local CASA office.

The CASA of Sangamon County Program strives to provide the children of Sangamon County who have experienced abuse and/or neglect with well-trained, informed, caring volunteers who can provide the best representation throughout the juvenile court proceedings so that every child can be safe, establish permanence and have the opportunity to thrive.

The vision of CASA of Sangamon County is that all children in Sangamon County can thrive in a safe, permanent and loving home.

Advocate Supervisors serve as the support system for each and every one of our volunteer advocates. Advocate Supervisors are there to enhance the passion and devotion of our volunteers with guidance, experience, and a familiarity with the court system. Each Advocate Supervisor provides supervision for roughly 30 volunteers, who can advocate on behalf of 45-80 children at any given time.

Sangamon County CASA’s Trainer ensures that every volunteer receives the thorough, comprehensive training that they need to be an effective advocate for a child. Every new volunteer receives 30+ hours of initial training before being sworn in, and each active volunteer attends 12 hours of continuing education each year to keep their training up to date with current information, methods, and standards.

In July 1993 the YWCA/CASA obtained a grant from the Attorney General’s office to develop a CASA program in Sangamon County. Volunteers were trained and assigned in early 1994. In September 1995, the CASA Program became a part of the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center.

The CASA volunteer in Sangamon County serves as a Friend of the Court. Through an order of appointment, the CASA volunteer has access to all pertinent records about the child they represent. They are responsible for interviewing all parties related to the case (e.g. caseworkers, foster parents, parents, children, teachers, counselors). The CASA volunteer reports their findings in written form to the court for hearings and has the opportunity to speak in court concerning the best interests of the child they serve.

The CASA Program staff provides direction, feedback and support to the volunteer throughout their assignment to the case.

Careers

There are currently no open positions at Sangamon County CASA. Please check back often if you’re interested in joining our team!