Living
in Lake County- CASA
Odie
Pahl
A number of years ago I was volunteering for the
Zacharias Center in Gurnee, which assists victims of sexual abuse. After being
thoroughly trained, I signed-up for the help line, was on call for emergency
visits to local hospitals for victims’ treatment, and learned how to advocate
in court when perpetrators were brought for trial. It was very interesting, a
bit depressing, and thoroughly fulfilling to help these people during their
darkest hours.
However, I have a special penchant for children. I
wanted to be of service for the ones who are really hurting. I heard about CASA (Court Appointed Special
Advocates) and called to see what it was all about. After an interview, almost
40 hours of training, and being assigned to a case manager, I was ready to
receive my first assignment. The children are victims of neglect, abandonment
and abuse. My cases were no different. Each child starts the process through
the court system and CASA volunteers do, as well. Until an illness two years
ago circumvented my service, I was fortunate to work on several cases.
About the time, I was sworn in (2010) there were
70,900 advocates nationally and they had helped over 240,000 children through
the court system. That same year, there were more than 700,000 children who
were victims of abuse and neglect. CASAs become the voice of the child in the
courtroom, research the background of their assigned cases, and advocate for
the best interests of the child.
Although the training covers a lot of information,
provides expert speakers, and prepares advocates through role play and the
study of past cases (privacy insured), until assigned a child or children it
all seems a bit unreal for a new CASA. Early-on
the responsibility you take on becomes quite clear. These children are thrown
into a system they do not understand, sometimes taken from their parents
indefinitely, and placed with strangers temporarily while the courts determine
their future. As an advocate, you may be the only person looking out for their
well-being.
Back in 1976, Superior Court Judge David Soukup in
Seattle, WA was concerned with the lack of information about how the children
were fairing in his criminal cases. No one was speaking for the child’s welfare.
By January 1977, he had a pilot program implemented. The first year there were
110 volunteers, serving 498 children in 376 cases in Seattle, alone. During the
next few decades, the replication of the initial program moved across the
country. There are now over 1,015 CASA programs within the United States.
CASA Lake County is located in Vernon Hills not too
far from the Robert W.
Depke Juvenile Justice Complex on Milwaukee Avenue. It is considered a
nonprofit membership organization. There are multiple fundraisers throughout the
year to fund the program. If interested in their training program go to http://casalakecounty.com for dates and to investigate the
application process. The commitment is
major, but worth the effort in the life of each child. CASA volunteers run the
gamut of differing professions, ethnic backgrounds, and possible time
constraints. If becoming an advocate is too time intensive, there are other
volunteer possibilities. Call (847) 377-7975 for
information.
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