CASA of DuPage County

The correct answer from Tuesday's poll is 1924! Congratulations to those who got it right! #trivia #1920s #childadvocacy 

It’s time for some more trivia! Question: In what year did the League of Nations adopt the Declaration of the Rights of the Child? Vote below, and we will reveal the answer on Thursday!   #trivia #1920s #childadvocacy

The correct answer to Tuesday's trivia question is the third option: National Association for the Education of Young Children! Congratulations to those of you who chose this! #trivia #1920s #childadvocacy

It’s time for some 1920s trivia! In 1926, the National Association for Nursery Education was founded. In 1964, its name was changed to what it is now called today. What is the current name? Vote in the poll below and we will reveal the answer on Thursday! #trivia #1920s #childadvocacy

The gala is now less than one month away! Have you bought your tickets yet? If you have plans to wear a 1920s-inspired outfit to the gala, let us know in the comments! #Fundraiser #Gala #CASAGala2024 #CASA #CASAofDuPageCounty #DuPageCounty

We are coming to the end of our "Feature Friday" series (at least for now)! For our final “Feature Friday,” we want to introduce Daniel Wolfe, J.D., Ph.D. Daniel became a CASA 3 years ago but has been aware of CASA for many years through friends and colleagues who have been involved. In this role, he has encouraged his CASA youth and made sure their service plans are adjusted as much as possible with their best interests in mind. He has been a sounding board and mentor, particularly for youth who are older, as well. He also shared that he has been someone that the children can rely upon whenever they need to reach out for support. For him, the most rewarding part of being an advocate is knowing that he’s making a difference in kids’ lives when they could otherwise be victims of the system. He also shared that it is very rewarding to see them eventually become successful and graduate from the system. When asked about the most important thing an advocate can do for their CASA youth, he said, “to listen, be selfless, be humble, and be a resource.” Thank you, Daniel, for being there for your CASA youth when they need it most! #CASAVolunteerApreciation #volunteerappreciation #volunteerspotlight #volunteer #advocate #featurefriday #CASA #CASAofDuPageCounty #DuPageCounty

Today’s speakeasy secret revolves around the United States Children’s Bureau, which was founded in 1912 and was the first national government office that focused solely on the well-being of children and their mothers at that time. Two notable women that played significant roles at the Children’s Bureau are Julia Lathrop (pictured on the left) and Grace Abbott (pictured on the right). Lathrop and Abbott were the first and second directors of the bureau respectively. The Children’s Bureau, which was run and staffed almost entirely by women for a time, is responsible for making significant changes throughout the country. One way this occurred was through pamphlets they published, which contained information about child, infant, and prenatal care. These benefited approximately half of the babies in the U.S. by 1929. Although the bureau’s focus used to be broader, today its focus is on preventing child abuse and improving adoption and foster care. CASA DuPage is thankful for the transformative work done by Lathrop, Abbott, and the Children’s Bureau, which laid the foundation for organizations like CASA. Check back to keep learning more child advocacy history through our upcoming #SpeakeasySecrets! #Fundraiser #Gala #CASAGala2024 #CASA #CASAofDuPageCounty #DuPageCounty

We are excited to announce that Judge Chantelle Porter will be the special guest speaker at the CASA DuPage gala! Juvenile Circuit Court Judge Porter is a former Public Guardian, Guardian ad Litem, Public Defender, and former partner with A. Traub & Associates. We can’t wait to hear what she has to share with us next month! #judgeporter #Fundraiser #Gala #CASAGala2024 #CASA #CASAofDuPageCounty #DuPageCounty

For this week’s “Feature Friday,” we want you to meet Keri Dunn. Keri became a CASA in October 2023, years after hearing about CASA on a TV show. As a CASA, she has advocated for her CASA kid in their education, which has included helping them look at educational and career opportunities. For Keri, the most rewarding parts of this role are the little things, like hearing a child run to the door to answer when she arrives, a child lighting up when Keri tells them she is very glad she gets to be their CASA, a random hug, and hearing the words, "I am glad you came today." Keri says she is proud that she filled out the online application to become an Advocate and took the steps to make it happen. She is also proud that completing those steps has made it possible for a child to have a voice in the courts. Additionally, Keri shared that she believes the most important thing an Advocate can do for the child is to continually show up. Thank you, Keri, for showing up and being a committed Advocate! #CASAVolunteerApreciation #volunteerappreciation #volunteerspotlight #volunteer #advocate #featurefriday #CASA #CASAofDuPageCounty #DuPageCounty

It’s week #2 of our #SpeakeasySecrets series! Today we are highlighting Dr. Christian Carl Carstens, the first director of the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), which was the focus of last week’s speakeasy secret. Prior to being head of the CWLA, Dr. Carstens held different leadership positions at a variety of charities and organizations that pursued the best interests of children. A paper Dr. Carstens presented at a national conference in 1915 is recognized for laying the groundwork for the CWLA, which he would later direct. As the director, he helped child welfare agencies and institutions throughout the U.S. to function more effectively. We are thankful for people like Dr. Carstens, who were innovators and worked hard to fight for the most vulnerable members of society during their lifetime. Stay tuned for next week’s speakeasy secret! #Fundraiser #Gala #CASAGala2024 #CASA #CASAofDuPageCounty #DuPageCounty