Saline County CASA receives $2,000 grant from Ameren Illinois

HARRISBURG - CASA of Saline County recently received a $2,000 grant from Ameren Illinois to assist in continuing the efforts of the program.

Did you know that the average cost of training one volunteer advocate is $583.00? CASA of Saline County provides a 36-hour training course with 6 hours of court observation.

After the advocate completes the training and an extensive background check, they are sworn in by a judge. Once they are sworn in, they meet with the director and discuss the cases to make sure there are no conflicts and they are able to be a neutral person with all parties. After the discussion, the order is sent to a judge to appoint them to the case. Once the judge signs off on the order, the advocate will work the case: investigating the facts, speaking with all parties of the case, working with caseworkers, attorneys, medical professionals until permanency has been achieved.

Children who have a CASA reach safe, permanent homes and loving families more quickly. What's that worth to a child? To a community? To a nation? The answer in dollars is impressive: $540 million a year in savings on foster care alone. CASA volunteers are there to change lives of children. Children who have a CASA receive more services that are critical to their well-being and they are more likely to succeed in school. Thank you, Ameren Illinois, for helping CASA continue our efforts!

CASA of Saline County currently serves 60 percent of the children who come into care.

"CASA would like to be serving 100 percent of the abused and neglected children that come into care but doesn't have enough volunteers" said Trina Irwin, executive director.

If just one person is inspired to speak up for these children, then one child's life may be saved.

CASA of Saline County is a not-for-profit organization that trains volunteer advocates to speak up for abused and neglected children that enter the Saline County juvenile court system. For more information on becoming a CASA volunteer or to schedule an interview, please contact Trina Irwin at (618) 253-3355 or salinecocasa@yahoo.com.