April - CASA

What is CASA? ~ CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. CASA is a private, non profit organization that recruits, trains and supports court approved community volunteers, to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children that are in the court system, seeking to assure safe, permanent families for them as quickly as possible.

CASA is the only volunteer organization that empowers citizens as appointed members of the court. In an overburdened social welfare system, abused and neglected children often slip through the cracks among hundreds of current cases. CASA volunteers change that. Appointed by judges, CASA volunteers typically handle just one case at a time – and commit to staying on that case until the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. While others may come and go, CASA volunteers provide that one constant that children need in order to thrive.

CASA of the Tenth Judicial Circuit (formerly CASA of Peoria County) is a volunteer organization that advocates for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are within the Juvenile Abuse and Neglect Court System in Peoria, Tazewell, Marshall, Putnam and Stark counties.

Mission: The mission of CASA of the Tenth Judicial Circuit is to ensure that every child who has experienced abuse or neglect is placed in a safe and permanent home, by utilizing specially trained community volunteers who advocate for children abused or neglected going through the court system.
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Vision: CASA of the Tenth Judicial Circuit’s goal is that every child who has experienced abuse or neglect is placed in a safe permanent home as quickly as possible. To build the nationally recognized advocate program for children abused or neglected throughout the Tenth Judicial Circuit. Specifically, our vision is to:

• Increase volunteerism with quality case management and training
• Provide consistent and quality advocacy services and programs
• Increase awareness and visibility for CASA of the Tenth Judicial Circuit
• Implement fundraising plans that will sustain our future for generations to come

Values: We believe that all children have the right to a safe, permanent home and deserve the support and involvement of their community to make this possible.