One Caring Adult Leads to More Positive Outcomes for McHenry County Youth in Foster Care

Imagine being 10 years old, knowing your very favorite holiday, Halloween, is coming up. But you’re living in a shelter and don’t have any way to participate. This was a real experience for Josh* until his volunteer CASA Advocate, Kerry*, showed up to take him trick-or-treating.

He has known Kerry for the last eight months that he’s been in foster care, because she volunteered to be his Court Appointed Special Advocate through CASA of McHenry County. Kerry has spent time with Josh, getting to know him – what he likes, what he misses from home, what he needs. She has built trust with Josh, so when she showed up to take him out to get candy, it meant the world to him!

The bond built between a CASA and a youth in care can have a significant effect on the youth. Children with a CASA spend an average of 6 months less in foster care, are 50% less likely to re-enter foster care, and are more likely to graduate high school.

CASA of McHenry County is a non-profit organization with the mission to support and protect children who have been abused or neglected, and to advocate for their best interest, in and out of court. The people advocating for these children are volunteers like Kerry. These amazing individuals from our community commit to roughly 10 to 15 hours per month to help find resources for their CASA children, to keep up to date with caseworkers, and, most importantly, to visit and bond with the children.

More kids like Josh will enter the foster care system in the coming months and need someone to walk alongside them, advocating for their best interest until they get to their forever home.

Find out how you can help, and sign up for an info session at www.casamchenrycounty.org. Next training class starts January 23.

*Names changed for confidentiality

For more information, please contact:

CASA of McHenry County

382 W Virginia St

Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Ph:  (779) 994-4398

casamchenrycounty.org