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Social services

CASA Kane County Forms Cross-County Advisory Council to Enhance Support for Children and Families

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

CASA Kane County has established a powerful collaboration among community leaders and organizations, aiming to strengthen support for children and families in Kane County and beyond. The initiative responds to a significant increase in children entering foster care, with CASA Kane County serving nearly 700 children in 2024, about double the number served five years ago in 2019. The newly formed Cross-County Advisory Council comprises representatives from various sectors, including healthcare, education, legal services, child welfare, law enforcement, and non-profit organizations. Their shared goal is to identify and eliminate barriers that prevent families from accessing critical support early, focusing on prevention, education, and early intervention.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Cross-County Advisory Council aims to reduce the number of children in foster care and improve the overall well-being of the community by addressing barriers to accessing critical support early.
  • The council involves representatives from various sectors, including healthcare, education, legal services, child welfare, law enforcement, and non-profit organizations.
  • Key priorities include identifying and connecting existing programs, services, and initiatives that offer families access to essential resources and positive life experiences.
  • The initiative focuses on equipping youth with the tools and relationships needed for long-term independence and reducing the complexity of accessing critical components of the system.
  • Local leaders see the potential for this approach to set a new standard for communities across the country and believe that community collaboration is essential to systemic change.
  • The council meets regularly and has outlined both short- and long-term actionable items to ensure the initiative remains on track.
  • Key stakeholders involved in the initiative include Jim Di Ciaula, executive director of CASA Kane County, Laura Poss, executive director of TriCity Family Services, Laura Oswald, CASA Kane County Board member and CASA/GAL volunteer, Lucy Rivera, advocate supervisor at CASA Kane County, Alex DeMarco, president of the Chicago Council on Practitioner Leadership, Briauna Alexander, director of the DCFS, Jason Harris, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and many others.
  • The initiative aligns with DCFS statewide transformation efforts, which focus on family-centered solutions and community-based support.

Statistics:

  • CASA Kane County served nearly 700 children in 2024, about double the number served five years ago in 2019.
  • The number of children served in foster care has increased dramatically, warranting a response from the community.
  • CASA Kane County aims to significantly reduce the number of children in foster care and improve the overall well-being of the community.
  • The council will prioritize prevention, education, and early intervention to achieve these goals.

Sources:

  • CASA Kane County
  • Jim Di Ciaula, executive director of CASA Kane County
  • Laura Poss, executive director of TriCity Family Services
  • Laura Oswald, CASA Kane County Board member and CASA/GAL volunteer
  • Lucy Rivera, advocate supervisor at CASA Kane County
  • Alex DeMarco, president of the Chicago Council on Practitioner Leadership
  • Briauna Alexander, director of the DCFS
  • Jason Harris, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America
  • DCFS statewide transformation efforts
  • CASA Kane County (www.casakanecounty.org)
  • Jim Di Ciaula (jimd@casakanecounty.org)

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