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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION HONORING COURT APPOOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA) OF COOK COUNTY FOR ITS EXTRAORDINARY ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Illinois Juvenile Court Act, (705ILCS 405/2-17.1) Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) serve as trained advocates appointed by the court to represent the best interests of children involved in abuse and neglect proceedings; and
WHEREAS, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Cook County, founded in 1986, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that children involved in the foster care system have their rights protected, their voices heard, and their best interests advanced through advocacy that promotes safety, permanency, well-being, and successful transitions to adulthood; and
WHEREAS, for more than forty years, CASA of Cook County has provided unwavering advocacy and support to more than 12,000 children and youth affected by abuse, neglect, family instability, trauma, and prolonged involvement in the child welfare system; and
WHEREAS, as one of the nation's largest and most complex urban CASA programs, and the only organization of its kind serving children within the Cook County Juvenile Court system, CASA of Cook County fulfills a unique and indispensable role by providing highly trained volunteer advocates who serve as independent voices for children in court proceedings and throughout their child welfare journeys; and
WHEREAS, children involved in the foster care system often face significant challenges related to physical and mental health, educational attainment, housing stability, and emotional wellbeing, and research has demonstrated that children assigned a CASA volunteer experience improved outcomes and are more likely to achieve permanency and stability; and
WHEREAS, African American children remain disproportionately represented within the foster care system and frequently experience longer stays in care and greater bar...
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