Julia O.

IL CASA Board

Congratulations to Julia O – Appointed to the Illinois CASA Board of Directors!

We are proud to announce that one of our very own, CASA/GAL Julia O, has been appointed to the Illinois CASA Board of Directors! Julia attended her first board meeting last week and is eager to bring her experiences as a volunteer advocate in Kane County to the state level.

Julia began her CASA journey in 2019 and has since served on two cases. Her first case involved six siblings ranging in age from newborn to 18, placed across a variety of homes throughout and beyond Kane County. Despite the challenges of the pandemic—transitioning from in-person to virtual visits—Julia remained steadfast in her advocacy, ensuring every child’s voice was heard. That case wrapped up in 2024, with the children ultimately placed in loving homes, either adopted or moving into independence.

She is now on her second case, working with three siblings ranging from age six to 15. Julia describes her CASA experience as “very rewarding,” explaining that she has deeply valued the opportunity to walk alongside children and families during such meaningful life transitions.

Outside of CASA, Julia is a school psychologist and a professor at Northern Illinois University. After completing her Ph.D. at Michigan State University, she joined the faculty at the University of South Florida before moving to NIU in 2015. In her academic role, Julia teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on child development and child adolescent therapy, while also conducting research focused on improving outcomes for youth with behavior challenges and the home and school factors that support positive development. She regularly publishes papers and presents at national conferences on these topics.

Julia’s professional expertise and lived experience as a CASA volunteer bring an invaluable perspective to the Illinois CASA Board. “In this role, I will be serving alongside the other members of the Board of Directors to help in facilitating advocacy for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. CASA Illinois helps support local programs, and I hope my experience working directly with children and families will inform decisions at the state level,” she said.

When she isn’t teaching, conducting research, or advocating for children, Julia enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, being outdoors, and reading.

Please join us in congratulating Julia on this well-deserved achievement. We are grateful for her service to CASA Kane County and excited to see the difference she will continue to make for children across the state of Illinois.