Cheri Fitts, Interim Executive Director 1-800-25ABUSE
Williamson County Administrative Bldg
Phone: (618) 998-2291 407 N. Monroe St., 3rd Floor
Fax: (618) 998-0006 PO Box 972
Marion IL 62959
Email: casa@williamsoncountyil.gov
Phone: (618) 998-2291 407 N. Monroe St., 3rd Floor
Fax: (618) 998-0006 PO Box 972
Marion IL 62959
Email: casa@williamsoncountyil.gov
Service Stats 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
New Children Assigned to CASA 63 64 55 50 79 61 Total Children Served by CASA 156 152 171 147 170 165 New CASAs Sworn-in 34 27 26 18 33 24 On any given day, approximately 397,000 children are in out-of-home care in the US. In 2013, 640,000 children spent some time in out-of-home care. Their average stay in foster care was almost two years. The average age of children in foster care is nine years old. Meeting the needs of this wave of children in crisis requires more CASA advocates to be trained. Volunteers answered the call and CASA of Williamson County continues to assign all children entering the local courts due to abuse and/or neglect to a trained CASA advocate to be their voice in court. 
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You can make a make DIFFERENCE!!
In 2014, more than 80 CASA Advocates are serving more than 100 local children 
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Story in the Stats
* The Illinois Department of Child and Family Services receives and investigates a report of suspected child abuse or neglect every five minutes, and a report of child sexual abuse every two hours
*In Williamson County, there were more than 1000 reports of child abuse and/or neglect made to the Illinois Child Abuse Hotline in 2013
*Other than a parent, the paramour (live-in boyfriend/girlfriend) is the most likely indicated perpetrator of child abuse and/or neglect
*In 2012, Williamson County had the 5th highest number of child abuse and/or neglect reports in Illinois based on population
*Child abuse and neglect reports increasted 5% statewide in Illinois in 2012
*CASA of Williamson County is assigning three times more children in crisis to trained CASA advocates every year than ten years ago
*In Williamson County, there were more than 1000 reports of child abuse and/or neglect made to the Illinois Child Abuse Hotline in 2013
*Other than a parent, the paramour (live-in boyfriend/girlfriend) is the most likely indicated perpetrator of child abuse and/or neglect
*In 2012, Williamson County had the 5th highest number of child abuse and/or neglect reports in Illinois based on population
*Child abuse and neglect reports increasted 5% statewide in Illinois in 2012
*CASA of Williamson County is assigning three times more children in crisis to trained CASA advocates every year than ten years ago
238,000 children have a CASA volunteer standing by their side each year, ensuring their voices are heard and needs are met. But another 400,000 go it alone.
You can change that.
You can change that.
*** ILLINOIS CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE ***
800-25-ABUSE
800-25-ABUSE
DCFS Reports . . .
Child deaths caused by neglect or abuse has skyrocketed, according to end-of-year analysis by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Neglect or abuse was indicated in the deaths of almost 30 children already under DCFS umbrella in 2013. Indicated child deaths occurred in equal numbers in Chicago, the suburbs, and downstate Illinois; almost 70 percent of victims never saw their first birthday.
Of the 27 DCFS-involved abuse or neglect deaths reported for the 12 months ending June 30, 2013, 12 were caused by abuse and 15 by neglect.
Of the 27 DCFS-involved abuse or neglect deaths reported for the 12 months ending June 30, 2013, 12 were caused by abuse and 15 by neglect.
NEW CASA ADVOCATE TRAINING BEGAN IN OCTOBER, 2014
Class began for new advocates Tuesday, October 7, 2014. With the increased numbers of children coming into care, we are again needing new volunteers. We are very thankful for each and everyone of our CASAs! Picture of the new CASAs sworn in Spring of this year will be posted soon.
Class began for new advocates Tuesday, October 7, 2014. With the increased numbers of children coming into care, we are again needing new volunteers. We are very thankful for each and everyone of our CASAs! Picture of the new CASAs sworn in Spring of this year will be posted soon.
New CASAs Sworn-in Fall 2013
Front row from L to R: Vicki H., Retta P., Brad H. Back Row from L to R: Richard B., Logan P., Lonnie M.
Six new CASA advocates were trained on Tuesday and Thursday nights in October and were sworn-in as officers of the court in September. All are ready to take their first case in serving a locally abused or neglected child in need. Throughout their training, they were educated on several important topics to become effective CASAs. Topics included: domestic violence, poverty, mental illness, substance abuse, the needs of children and families, report writing, juvenile law and more. "CASAs have many responsibilities, but the most important is to help ensure the child is in an appropriate and safe foster home from the start of the case," states CASA Director Cheri Fitts. "We are very fortunate to have these CASAs ready to be assigned to do just that." Please call the CASA office at 618.998.2291 for information if you're interested in helping our kids.
