Hello and Welcome to our Website....

On Behalf of the CASA – 15^th Judicial Circuit (Lee/Carroll/Ogle Counties) Program Board of Directors and Program Staff, thank you for visiting our website.  Our offices, located in Dixon, Mt. Carroll and Oregon, Illinois, provide support to the volunteers who provide advocacy services to abused and neglected children in these counties.

With the support of the Honorable Judge Thomas Hornsby, the Lee County Juvenile Court and a handful of dedicated volunteers, the Lee County CASA Program was created in the Spring of 1988.  In June 1994, the Lee County program received an expansion grant from the National CASA Association to establish a branch office in Carroll County to provide advocacy services to children in that area.  The program's name was changed to Lee/Carroll County CASA to reflect the expanded area. In October 2006, our program expanded into Ogle County, resulting  in restructuring our program as CASA – 15^th Judicial Circuit Lee/Carroll/Ogle Counties.

In 2003, the Lee County Program celebrated our 15 Year Anniversary of serving abused and neglected children in Lee County thanks to the thousands of hours contributed by dedicated CASA volunteers.

During the last fifteen years,  we have experienced considerable growth in our volunteer base.  This has allowed us to increase the number of children who have achieved safety and permanency through the efforts of our volunteers.  As we look to the future  and our renewed committment in serving the abused and neglected children in our communities, our efforts will focus on recruiting and expanding our volunteer program.  We remain commited to achieving our GOAL of providing "a powerful voice in court " for every abused and neglected child in our community.

We will also continue to examine the quality and effectiveness of our advocacy program in order to strengthen our efforts to speak up for these most vulnerable children. 

The CASA – 15^th Judicial Circuit Program needs your help - every child deserves a "powerful voice" in court and a chance for a safe, loving permanent home - many children are currently awaiting the appointment of a CASA volunteer - We invite you to contact us at 815-288-1901, 815-440-6598 (after hours) or 815-244-2272 to step forward today to help a child.

Child abuse knows no cultural, racial or economic barriers.  it occurrs in our city, in every neighborhood, everyday of the year.  Please help us in this battle.  Educate yourself, your children,  grandchildren, friends, and neighbors, about the maltreatment of children.  Most importantly, if you need to report a possible child abuse case, call the DCFS hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE or call your local police authorities.  Please call if you suspect a child is being abused - it could be the most important call you ever place and could save a child's life.

Our Mission: To provide a volunteer advocate who will speak up for the best interests of every abused/neglected child involved in the juvenile court system in Lee, Carroll and Ogle Counties.