Every year, more than three million children nationally are reported abused or neglected. Despite the states’ attempts to help, many of these kids become trapped in the court and child welfare maze and can spend their childhood moving from one temporary shelter to another.
This is where you can step in by becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer.
CASA of Kankakee County, a program of Child Network, is seeking volunteers for its upcoming training class that will begin on September 13. The training consists of 30 hours of classroom and online coursework.
CASA volunteers are assigned to an abused and/or neglected child in the Kankakee County Court System and develop relationships with the children they serve. They also work closely with social service caseworkers, parents, counselors and the court, spending an average of 10 hours per month on a case. Through these relationships, CASA volunteers then make independent recommendations to the judge as to the best interests of the children.
If you are interested in making a difference in a child’s life by becoming a CASA or would like more information, call Child Network at 815-936-7372 or visit our website at the link below.
