Court Appointed Special Advocates of Peoria County are looking to increase the number of children they serve.
CASA of Peoria County aims to raise $50,000 by May. It's part of a new campaign called "I am For the Child."
Paris McConnell handles development for CASA. She says CASA volunteers reduce an average of eight months off the time a child spends in foster care.
McConnell says so often the CASA volunteer helps a child in many other ways.
“In their relationship with the child they discover that the kid needs intervention, they need counseling, they need therapy, they need academic help," McConnell said. "It’s just that extra voice for the child that is solely in the interest of the child.”
CASA volunteers go through a training course before they are court appointed. McConnell says CASA will be able to serve about 300 more children this year if they meet their fundraising goal. An estimated 925 children will enter the foster care system in Peoria County this year. When a child enters the foster care system it costs the state about $5,700 a month, McConnell said.
“With our CASAs, they generally minimize the stay of the Fosters, and so we take about eight-months. From the time, the case starts until the time a child is placed in a permanent home,” McConnell said.
Those interested in supporting the CASA campaign can do it through the agency website. CASA also offers training classes for people who what to become certified and volunteer to be a Court Appointed Advocate.
