HELPING CHILDREN REPLACE A LIFE OF HURT WITH ONE OF HOPE

A nonprofit organization, CASA of Vermilion County trains and supervises community volunteers to serve as appointed advocates for abused and neglected children in the juvenile court system stemming from allegations of parental/caregiver abuse, neglect, dependency or abandonment. CASA volunteers are appointed by a juvenile court judge and are a constant adult presence in the lives of the children they serve. Opening its door in July of 2007, CASA of Vermilion County is one of the newest of more than 900 CASA programs in the nation with over 53,000 volunteers nationwide who assisted over 225,000 children last year.

History

In 1976, Superior Court Judge David Soukup of Seattle became concerned about making decisions regarding abused and neglected children's lives without sufficient information. He conceived the idea of using trained community volunteers, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, to gather information about the children and bring it to court. So successful was this Seattle program that soon judges across the country began utilizing citizen advocates. In 1990, the U.S. Congress encouraged the expansion of CASA with passage of the Victims of Child Abuse Act.

The Children We Serve

What does having a CASA volunteer mean to a child? Imagine what it would be like to lose your parents, not because of something you did, but because they can't - or won't - take care of you. Now, into your life come dozens of strangers: police, foster parents, social workers, judges, lawyers, and more. Having a CASA volunteer means having by your side a trained and committed adult who has been appointed by a judge to watch over and advocate for your best interests. That volunteer will make sure you don't get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish in an inappropriate group or foster home. They will be there for you until your case is closed. It can make the difference between homelessness and a safe home, between dropping out and completing school, between unemployment and success, between jail and becoming a productive member of society.

Board Officers
Jane Dobbles, President
Sandi Wood, Vice President 
Chuck Kasper, Treasurer
Alayne Anderson, Secretary

Board Directors
Neal Ehrlich, Liya Hussmann Rogers, Tricia Keith, Roxy Reed, Anna Sykes

Advocate Representative
Mike Courson

Staff
Paul Gallagher, Executive Director
Kerrie Gill, Advocate Coordinator

The CASA office is located in the Danville Township Building, Downstairs

CASA of Vermilion County
101 W North Street, Danville, IL 61832
Phone (217) 446-5975
Fax (217) 446-6018

Office Hours:  Monday - Thursday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
The Danville Township Building is closed on Fridays

                Paul Gallagher, Executive Director                              Kerrie Gill, Advocate Coordinator
           Email:  director@casavermilion.org                    Email:  advcoor@casavermilion.org

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