Court Appointed Special Advocates of Cook County

CASA of Cook County: A Proven Solution in an Overburdened System

CASA of Cook County is uniquely positioned to stand in the gap for children in protective custody—ensuring they not only find safety and permanency but also have a trusted adult fighting for their best interests at every turn.

At the heart of our mission is a simple but transformative model: we train and support everyday citizens who serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA volunteers). Each volunteer is sworn in by a judge and assigned to one or two children at a time. They dedicate about 10 hours per month to building a relationship with the child, connecting with teachers, foster parents, natural parents, and caseworkers, and providing judges with independent, child-centered recommendations. Judges accept these recommendations 85% of the time—a powerful indicator of the confidence they place in CASA’s work.

The Urgent Need in Cook County:

Today, more than 5,600 children are living in foster care in Cook County due to abuse or neglect. Illinois ranks last in the nation for achieving timely permanency. High caseworker turnover, budget shortfalls, and complex cases often leave children vulnerable to gaps in services or further maltreatment. Without intervention, the longer a child remains in foster care, the more their health, education, and long-term well-being suffer.

The CASA Impact

Independent research demonstrates the life-changing outcomes for children with a CASA volunteer:

• Shorter stays in foster care

• Lower rates of reentry into protective custody

• Improved educational achievement and access to services

• Better physical and mental health outcomes

CASA advocacy is also remarkably cost-effective—one year of advocacy costs only a fraction of what it takes to keep a child in foster care for the same time period. This means that every dollar invested produces not just immediate results, but a lifetime of positive impact.

Why Plante Moran’s Partnership Matters

Every one of the 5,600 children in Cook County’s child welfare system deserves the protection of a CASA volunteer. With strategic partners like Plante Moran, CASA can expand its reach, recruit and train more advocates, and ensure children in foster care are not just protected, but given the stability and opportunity to thrive.

By investing in CASA, Plante Moran would be driving measurable impact for children, supporting systemic change in Illinois’s child welfare system, and advancing its commitment to community resilience, equity, and social responsibility.