Our Mission
CASA for Kids provides court appointed volunteer advocacy for children who have experienced abuse or neglect in the counties we are assigned in the Second and Fourth Judicial Court Circuits.
January 2025
CASA of South Central began steps towards regionalization in fall of 2023 to merge with CASA of Effingham County including their program's expansion into Clay, Fayette and Jasper counties. In July 2024 a favorable vote by all boards to widen the merge to include CASA of Franklin and Hamilton Counties occurred. Final documentation of the full merge was submitted and accepted by the Secretary of State Office in late December 2024.
All three boards believe regionalization allows our mission work to be done efficiently and effectively when maximizing resources and best supporting our talented staff and dedicated volunteers across southern Illinois. Serving more children and youth in our rural communities who have experienced abuse and neglect is top priority.
Inquiries regarding our recent merge and expansion may be directed to Libby Moeller, Deputy Director lmoeller@casa4change.org
Court Appointed Special Advocates® (CASA) is a network of 941 community-based programs, across 49 states in this country that recruit, train, and support citizen-volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse and neglect in juvenile court. Volunteer Advocates—empowered directly by the courts—offer judges the critical information they need to ensure that each child’s rights and needs are being attended to while in foster care.
Advocates are community volunteers, just like you, who stand up and speak out to help children who have experienced abuse and neglect. We need men and women who are willing to commit 5-10 hours per month to make a direct impact for children in their community. And make no mistake, these are OUR children. They are children you pass in the store or see on the playground. They are in the same classroom as your children and grandchildren. Like every child, these children need someone to step up and be their voice, to support them in their time of need.
Volunteers stay with children until they are placed in safe, permanent homes. For many of these children, a CASA volunteer is the only constant adult presence in their lives. CASA volunteers are making lifelong differences in children's lives every day! Each year, more than 800 children and youth in the counties we serve, Clay, Clinton, Effingham, Franklin, Fayette, Hamilton, Jasper, Marion & White counties, find themselves involved in juvenile court due to abuse and neglect at the hands of those who are entrusted with their care, love, and guidance.
Visit National CASA/GAL Association for Children's page and Illinois CASA's page to learn more about the larger network we are a part of.
WITH A CASA VOLUNTEER, CHILDREN:
- are more likely to find a safe, permanent home
- are more likely to be adopted
- are half as likely to re-enter foster care
- are more likely to have a plan for permanency, especially children of color
- receive more attention and services while in care
- are more likely to have a consistent, responsible adult presence
- spend less time in foster care
- receive improved representation in court
- do better in school performance
- are more likely to pass all courses
- are less likely to have poor conduct in school
