The holiday season is upon us. Holiday lights are all around. You can hear the jingling of bells and carols being sung. Festive events for children and adults. The hustle and bustle of the season while people are shopping for gifts and food. Santa comes to visit and brings a question… have you been good this year?
Give the Gift of Hope
There are many different traditions, and many different emotions that come with the holidays. Christmas brings so much joy and happiness to many children but for others it can be a challenging time worrying for their own safety and security even a sad time or not knowing if there will be a gift under a tree for them . What is the best gift a child who has experienced abuse and neglect can receive? The gift of hope. CASA Kane County has been giving the gift of hope to more than 600 children this year, by advocating for the best interests of children in abuse, neglect, and private guardianship cases within the Juvenile Court system throughout Northern Illinois. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. Volunteer advocates are trained community members, who advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse and neglect and are involved with the child welfare system.
As a non-profit organization CASA Kane County relies on the generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations for annual donations. It takes $5,000 to fund a child for a year. All funding provides a trained CASA/GAL volunteer to support the best interests of children in care. Kane County CASA serves 100% of cases of abuse and neglect originating in Kane County.
There are many ways to assist the children in foster care and give the gift of hope.
Donate:
- You can make a convenient, secure, mobile friendly gift used for year-round support here: https://casakaneco.harnessgiving.org/campaigns/8750
The options to donate range from a one-time gift to setting up a recurring gift. There are two new recurring options. You can Be a Changemaker by setting a monthly amount, or you can enroll in our Round Up to Give Back monthly program where you donate your spare change with your everyday purchases. You can set and control how much you want to give each month.
- Throughout the year CASA Kane County’s “Incidentals Program” provides basic need items from clothing to schools supplies and hygiene items that are distributed to the children and youth as needed. There are many community fundraisers and businesses that donate items throughout the year. Please reach out to us if you would like to participate by calling 630-232-4484 or email at info@casakanecounty.org.
- CASA Kane County works with partners in the community who support our Annual Holiday Giving Event. This is a way to provide hope and the magic of Christmas to all 600 children who suffer abuse, neglect and/or private guardianship cases within the Juvenile Court system in Kane County.by providing a gift. Because it’s never fun to arrive with a gift for one child but not all, we encourage advocates to choose a gift for ALL children in the household – children in the CASA program as well as their foster siblings. The children are so grateful to have not only a CASA Volunteer advocate in their corner throughout their time in the court system but someone who cares about making holidays special for them.
This program would not be possible without the generous donations from many groups. Some of these gracious donors this year include:
All About You Dental
Alpha Graphics
ASID
BMO
Bright Souls
Country Trails School
CUCC
Delnor Hospital
FT Cares
Hart Chiropractic
HD Plumbing and Heating
Hosanna Lutheran Church
Impact Environmental Group
Judge Chiropractic
Kane County Sheriff Dept
Kim Byrne/GWC
Lift Works
Parent Petroleum
Pinot’s Palette
Presidio
Renaissance Foundation
St John Neumann
The Rullo Team/Vicky Rullo
The Wrapping Party
Unity Fox Valley
Weiss Lawn Care
YogaSix Geneva
Volunteer:
CASA recruits volunteers who participate in training and get sworn in as a Guardian ad Litem, an official officer of the court, representing the children who through no fault of their own, enter Abuse/ Neglect Courts within the 16th Judicial Court system. We currently have more than 600 children in care and 145 of those have come into care in 2022. The sad reality is that this number keeps growing, so the need for volunteers and funding also increases. Findings have shown that children who are in the foster system and have a CASA to support them throughout their case have significantly better outcomes. Thankfully, having a stable relationship with a supportive adult help children do well, even when they have faced significant hardships. For many children in foster care, that caring adult is their CASA volunteer.
Anyone can be a volunteer and provide support for children in need. To learn more about the CASA/GAL Volunteer opportunity please visit our website. You can review the online information or attend a virtual general information meeting:
Where do I Start? Choose 4 Easy Steps On-Line OR Attend our Virtual Live General Information Meeting
CASA volunteers across our community are providing a sense of hope through their consistent presence and best-interest advocacy for children and youth experiencing the loneliness and trauma of being removed from their homes, especially during this holiday season. If you are looking for ways to support, please reach out to find more ways you can help Change a Child’s Story by visiting www.casakanecounty.org or calling 630-232-4484.
CASA Kane County is nonprofit volunteer organization advocating for the best interest of children in abuse and neglect situations throughout Northern Illinois. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardian ad Litem) volunteers are specially trained to become the objective voice of a child for a judge.
CASA Kane County is currently seeking VOLUNTEERS! To learn more and Change a Child’s Story, please visit the organization’s website at www.casakanecounty.org or call 630-232-4484.