October 16, 2026 at 8:00 am CDT
By CASA Kane County [sponsored]
Illinois’ child welfare system is continuing to evolve, with a growing emphasis on prevention, family stability, and connecting families with support before challenges become crises.
Through initiatives including Family First Prevention Services, Family Advocacy Centers, Intact Family Services, Forward Together, and the Safety Assessment and Family Evaluation (SAFE) Model, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is working toward a more responsive, family-centered approach. The goal is to better understand each family’s circumstances, connect parents and caregivers with appropriate services, and, whenever safely possible, help children remain with or return to their families.
That support can take many forms. Families may need help finding housing, food assistance, transportation, childcare, mental health care, substance-use treatment, parenting resources, domestic-violence services, or financial assistance. Building stronger connections between families and community organizations can help address those needs earlier and strengthen long-term stability.
For CASA Kane County, this changing environment creates new opportunities while reinforcing a responsibility that has not changed: advocating for the best interests and safety of every child.
The Kane County Circle of Care is an important part of that work. Led by CASA Kane County, the collaborative initiative brings community partners together around prevention, early intervention, and easier access to local resources. A new navigation tool is expected to become available to partners in October, with broader outreach planned for 2027.
As family-centered practices continue to develop, CASA volunteers and staff will remain focused on keeping children safe, meeting their needs, and ensuring their voices are heard. At the same time, helping families connect with the right resources may create stronger pathways toward stability, reunification when appropriate, and healthier futures.
This work depends on collaboration among advocates, courts, agencies, and community partners.
Learn more about CASA Kane County and its work supporting children and families at casakanecounty.org.
CASA Kane County
1607 E. Main Street, Suite 2E
St. Charles, IL 60174
630-232-4484
www.casakanecounty.org