On any given day, there are more than 550 children and youth in foster care in Lake County. Children who have experienced abuse or neglect are involved with multiple systems—the court system, the child welfare system, the health care system, and the school system. As a result, returning back to school can be a difficult and unpredictable.

CASA volunteers are in frequent contact with teachers and school administrators to form a partnership to better understand the child’s unique strengths and challenges. These interactions with the child’s school, combined with the volunteer’s relationship with the child, empower our volunteers to advocate in court for what the child needs to thrive academically. Our goal is to not only to advocate in court, but also in the classroom.

One of the other ways our volunteers do that is by setting up the children and youth they serve for success by making sure they have everything they need to learn and perform in the classroom. CASA hosted our annual back to school open house on August 3rd where volunteers were able to pick up school supplies, clothing, toys, and other items that the children in their case need.

To CASA Julie for her excellent efforts in ensuring her CASA child and his sibling could go to a special camp this summer. She went above and beyond to help the family work out transportation challenges and have the supplies they needed.  

To CASA Jim for his willingness to take on a second case of a fourteen-year-old teen boy that needs a CASA. Jim did not hesitate when asked if he could handle another case stating, “I just want to help where I can -- that is why I am doing this work.”