Deerfield Resident Joins CASA Lake County to Help Fight Child Abuse

Michael Mendoza, of Deerfield, was recently sworn in by the Lake County Juvenile Court as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for local children suffering from abuse and neglect. Mr. Mendoza will be working as a volunteer with CASA Lake County, a Vernon Hills-based non-profit, which has a force of nearly 300 dedicated advocates.

The children CASA volunteers work to protect are all involved in Lake County Juvenile Court proceedings. Most are living in foster care. Mr. Mendoza's induction ceremony took place online on March 11, 2021, and included 11 other new CASA volunteers.

"I read an article in The Daily Herald about CASA at the end of 2020 and reached out to them for a volunteer opportunity," said Mr. Mendoza. "CASA appealed to me because there are so many children who need a voice to support and defend them. I want my volunteer work with CASA to help ensure that these children won't suffer any more."

"The Covid crisis has completely flipped the script for all child welfare organizations and we need CASA volunteers like never before," said Terri Zenner Greenberg, Executive Director of CASA Lake County. "Before the pandemic, we were already seeing a significant rise in new abuse and neglect cases. But since last March, the number of children entering protective care has skyrocketed."

"Every Lake County agency that works with children in foster care is overwhelmed," continued Ms. Greenberg. "We have nearly 70 children on our waiting list for CASA assignments. We hope to recruit many more dedicated people who can help us with our work. Volunteers with a variety of skills are appreciated. Those who are fluent in Spanish are particularly needed."

CASA volunteers perform a valuable service to more than 550 children in Lake County, who have been taken into state care and are awaiting permanency. The goal of a CASA is to help move kids efficiently through the court system into safe, permanent homes where they will have an opportunity to thrive.

CASA volunteers must successfully complete an in-depth, 40-hour training program. The program prepares them to help ensure that the best interests of children are being served and that juvenile court judges are aware of all issues that impact those interests. In recent months, the training has been conducted online.

Anyone interested in volunteering with CASA Lake County, please contact Debra Lerner-Schmidt at dlernerschmidt@casalakecounty.com.