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CASA of McLean and Logan Counties
announces summer 2025 pre-service training dates
[June 16, 2025]
Lincoln, IL – CASA of McLean
and Logan Counties is excited to announce that the Summer 2025 CASA
Pre-Service Training will be held on Monday & Wednesday evenings
from 4:00pm-7:00pm, July 14th to August 8th. Residents of Logan
County or McLean County with an interest in advocating for children
in foster care should complete the volunteer application by Sunday,
July 6th to be considered for the Summer 2025 Pre-Service Training
session.
According to the
Department of Children and Family Services’ Youth in Care Report,
72 children from Logan County are experiencing foster care as of May
31, 2025. CASA of McLean and Logan Counties offers a variety of
in-person and online training modalities that give volunteer
advocates thorough
educational and hands-on experiences before being appointed to a
case.
“Being a CASA means showing up for a child when it matters most. It
means standing strong in the face of uncertainty, speaking up for
what’s right, and walking beside a child on their journey to a
safer, more stable future,” said Mary Pat Frugo-Anderson, Executive
Director of CASA of McLean and Logan
Counties. “Our team is looking for caring adults who are willing to
be a powerful voice for children navigating the child welfare system
in our community,” she continued.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are volunteers who take an
oath to, “protect and promote the best interests” of children
experiencing foster care in their community. CASA advocates are
appointed by the court to serve children and families with open
juvenile abuse or neglect cases; thorough training and supervision
is provided to volunteers before and during their appointment to a
case. Because CASAs are appointed to a case until the children find
a safe, permanent, and loving home, serving as a volunteer advocate
provides a unique, long-term, and flexible volunteer experience.
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THE ROLE OF A CASA VOLUNTEER
ADVOCATE – Serving as a volunteer advocate involves meeting with
the child at least once a month, conducting interviews with the
adults involved in a child’s
life (biological families and foster families), reviewing records
related to the involved parties, working on a team with the
caseworker/service providers, authoring court reports regarding the
family’s progress, and creating recommendations to the court as to
the best interests of the child. CASA Volunteer Advocates are
partnered with a CASA Case Supervisor, who provides ongoing support
throughout the volunteer’s appointment to a case. A volunteer
advocate must complete CASA Pre-Service Training and pass a DCFS
Background Check before being accepted into the program.
To apply to be a CASA volunteer, please check out
our website. To learn more about CASA, visit us on
Facebook.
With questions about becoming a Volunteer Advocate, please contact
the Volunteer Recruiter/Trainer, Paige Malloy, at 309-434-5853 or
email paige.malloy@mcleancountyil.gov.
[Paige Malloy
Recruiter/Trainer
CASA of McLean and Logan Counties]
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