April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Each year, over 600,000 children in the United States experience abuse or neglect, ushering many of them into the dependency court and foster care systems. A child in foster care, on average, will move into multiple homes and attend multiple schools. All this chaos and inconsistency has long-term effects.

Children and youth who have spent time in the child welfare system are more likely to face incarceration, homelessness, and unemployment. They are less likely to graduate high school and more likely to be trafficked.

While all of this is without a doubt heartbreaking, there is hope. As a consistent, caring adult in the child’s life, CASA Lake County volunteers help Lake County judges make the most informed decisions for the well-being of the child(ren) they serve. These volunteers also help identify resources for the child(ren) and their families to help strengthen families and prevent crises before they occur.

As April is also Volunteer Appreciation Month, our entire CASA staff would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of the 288 wonderful volunteers who do this important work. Thank you so much for making a difference in the lives of the children you serve.

To CASA Isabel who has been advocating almost two and a half years for her CASA child, who will turn three very soon. The CASA child has been in a relative foster home for the majority of her life, has a close bond with foster mom and, despite significant medical needs, is now thriving and catching up developmentally. Isabel has been a source of support, encouragement, and resource to foster mom and the child and consistently illustrated for the court how positive the placement has been. The court recently terminated the parent’s rights and the goal is for the child to be adopted by foster mom. 

To CASA Laura for her committed advocacy for her young CASA girl whose case just closed after being returned to her father. Laura did a great job connecting with her CASA child and ensuring that she was well-cared for in her father’s home. She also formed a comfortable relationship with the natural father and was able to help him be accountable when issues in school arose. She was also able to help bridge the school with the father and encouraged the father’s communication with the school.  Her observations were so important in helping the judge decide to close the case as she had been able to observe the girl more than the caseworker had.