Why CASA?

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    A NATION-WIDE CRISIS FACES OUR FOSTER YOUTH

• Over 15,000 children were in foster care in Illinois last year.
• 573 OF THOSE CHILDREN WERE IN FOSTER CARE IN LAKE COUNTY ALONE.
• The average child spends nearly 2 years in foster care
• By 18, many of these children have lived in multiple homes, attended an average of 9 different schools and worked with 7 different social workers.
• The disruption and change in the child welfare system traumatized youths when it is intended to protect them.

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    CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS ARE THE LOCAL SOLUTION

• 482 abused and neglected children have a Lake County CASA volunteer speaking up for their best interests.
• Children with a CASA spend 7.5 fewer months in foster care.
• New children enter the system every week due to abuse or neglect.
• CASA Lake County aims to serve every child in need of an advocate.

    BRIGHTER FUTURES FOR EVERY CHILD

• One year of CASA advocacy costs less than one month of foster care.
• CASAs help foster children find safe, permanent homes.
• A child with a CASA is half as likely to re-enter the foster care system.
• With a CASA as an educational advocate, a child in foster care is more likely to succeed in school and beyond.

    Learn more:

    Child Welfare Statistics from Child Welfare Information Gateway

    Intro to Foster Care from Foster Club

    CASA Statistics and Outcomes from National CASA Association