Illinois CASA

June is National Reunification Month ❤ We believe that families deserve a chance to overcome the barriers that brought their children into care, and we believe that people are capable of change.

Almost half of the Illinois child welfare cases that had a designated Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) ended in Family Reunification in FY25. Other top outcomes included adoption and guardianship.

We're looking for community volunteers to become trained Court Appointed Special Advocates for youth navigating an open child abuse or child neglect case in the state of Illinois. You can help ensure that every child has a safe, permanent, and loving home. Learn more about this unique volunteer opportunity: illinoiscasa.org/how-to-help/

Today, we're using to highlight one of the amazing volunteers from Friends of Boone County CASA!

Lynn Franceschetti was awarded the Bronze Volunteer of the Year award for her dedication to advocating for children who are navigating the Illinois child welfare system. Lynn went above and beyond in her approach to fostering healthy relationships with the children and adults involved in the case.

💙 Her local CASA program states that, "Not only is Lynn a strong advocate for our children, she is a positive presence to the CASA program as a whole. We are very appreciative of her dedication to CASA and the children she serves."

❤ We are so thankful to volunteers like Lynn for their commitment to advocating for children who have experienced abuse or neglect in our state. Consider joining Lynn and the 3,000+ other CASA Volunteers making a difference in Illinois: https://illinoiscasa.org/how-to-help/

📢 We Are Hiring! 📢

Advocacy Network for Children is currently accepting resumes for a full-time Hancock County CASA Coordinator position.

This position will primarily oversee CASA advocacy services in Hancock County while also assisting with Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) advocacy efforts in Hancock and McDonough Counties.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about supporting children, families, and community advocacy efforts. 💙

Please send resumes to Brittany Durst, CASA Manager, at [email protected].

This we're reflecting on another award from the Illinois CASA Conference!

As Board President of CASA of the Tenth Judicial Circuit - Court Appointed Special Advocates, James Kemper spearheads long-term strategic planning efforts that help guide the organization’s growth and sustainability. His dedication to public service is evident in every aspect of his work, and his leadership continues to strengthen their local CASA program. James brings a strong passion for creating a brighter, stronger future for children in our community who have experienced abuse or neglect.

His nominators shared a special mention:
“Together with his wife, Christine, the Kemper’s have given generously of their time, talent, and resources—championing CASA’s mission at every turn...Their combined efforts have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for our small organization and, even more importantly, have introduced countless individuals to the CASA mission. James understands the vital role that board members play—not just in governance, but in giving, engaging, and advocating."

💙 James, thank you for being a model board member in our state, and for all you do to support children & volunteers in Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, and Tazwell counties.

📸 James is pictured with Mari, CEO of Illinois CASA, presenting him with the award at last month’s Illinois CASA Conference.

Behind this number are thousands of real children who need someone in their corner.

Court Appointed Special Advocates are community volunteers who step up to amplify a child’s voice when it matters most. Volunteers come from all walks of life, but one belief unites them: 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲, 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲.

CASA volunteers support children who have experienced abuse or neglect, and stand beside them throughout their entire court case. Learn more about the role of a CASA volunteer, and how to get connected with your local CASA program today: illinoiscasa.org/how-to-help/volunteer.html

For this , please help us celebrate the Staff Partner of the Year - Melanie Buhle!

Melanie has served as a CASA Staff Member for over 12 years, and she works tirelessly to build collaborative relationships that strengthen the CASA program as they continue to grow into new communities and changing environments. Melanie is a problem-solver at heart; she goes above and beyond to connect families/volunteers with the resources they need, she adapts well when conquering new barriers, and she was monumental in developing the CASA Connections Center in Grundy County.

❤ Her nominators from CASA of River Valley captured it best:
“Melanie is the heart and soul of CASA of River Valley and exemplifies exactly what a child advocate and community leader should be. She is completely devoted to helping the children and families... while adapting to the ever-changing atmosphere of child welfare."

💙 Thank you, Melanie, for everything you do to amplify the voice of children navigating the child welfare system in your community. Your impact is beyond measure.

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝟮-𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
Presented by Illinois CASA & YouthCare HealthChoice Illinois!

Understanding how children process the world around them is a game-changer for parents, caregivers, and advocates alike. We’re diving deep into the "why" behind sensory behaviors at our upcoming event: "That Makes Sensory: Understanding Sensory Processing Differences in Children."

🗓️ Wednesday, May 20
⏰ 11am-1pm

This training is open to the public. Let’s move from "I don't get it" to "That Makes Sensory!"

🔗 Registration: https://illinoiscasa.org/news-events/event/2026/05/20/that-makes-sensory-understanding-sensory-processing-differences-in-children/552974

Today, we honor the women who shape the lives of children growing up across our state. Thank you. ❤💐💙