Advocacy Network for Children

Advocacy Network for Children Our 3 programs are Court Appointed Special Advocates, Child Advocacy Centers & prevention program. CASA volunteers come form all walks of life.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) are trained community volunteers appointed by a judge to speak up for abused or neglected children in court. CASA volunteers work alongside attorneys and social workers from case inception to its completion. They have a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. No special experience is required. Volunteers are selected on the basis of the

ir objectivity, competence and commitment. Once accepted, volunteers are trained in courtroom procedure, the social service and juvenile court systems, and the special needs of children who have been abused or neglected. It takes a commitment of 10-12 hours a month to be a CASA volunteer. Although it is challenging, it is very rewarding. The Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) are a new way of serving child victims of sexual abuse or serious physical abuse through a comprehensive approach to services for victims and their families. The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) provides a safe, neutral, child-friendly environment where child victims of non-offending families meet with members of a multidisciplinary team of professionals for the purpose of investigation. The Children’s Advocacy Center staff provides advocacy services and help bridge the gap between social services, law enforcement, and the court system.

🌟 A little Monday encouragement 🌟
09/07/2026

🌟 A little Monday encouragement 🌟

Happy Labor Day from Advocacy Network for Children! 🇺🇸Today, we recognize the dedication and hard work of individuals th...
09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day from Advocacy Network for Children! 🇺🇸

Today, we recognize the dedication and hard work of individuals throughout our communities. We are especially grateful for our amazing staff, volunteers, community partners, and supporters who work each day to make a difference for children and families.

Wishing everyone a safe, relaxing, and well-deserved Labor Day!

We will be closed tomorrow, Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable La...
09/06/2026

We will be closed tomorrow, Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Labor Day! ❤️🤍💙

Did you know? People who want to harm children often try to build trust with both the child and the family before cross...
09/04/2026

Did you know?

People who want to harm children often try to build trust with both the child and the family before crossing boundaries. This process is known as grooming.

Teaching children about healthy boundaries, open communication, and trusted adults can help them recognize when something doesn't feel right.

A great two days this week at the 2026 Forensic Interviewer Conference! We had the opportunity to learn about a variety ...
09/04/2026

A great two days this week at the 2026 Forensic Interviewer Conference!

We had the opportunity to learn about a variety of topics impacting forensic interviewing, including working with prosecutors, online exploitation, recantation, trauma and resilience, peer review, and child s*x trafficking.

Always grateful for opportunities to continue learning, strengthen our practice, and connect with others doing this important work across Illinois.

Full-time Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Volunteer Development Specialist needed at the Advocacy Network for C...
09/01/2026

Full-time Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Volunteer Development Specialist needed at the Advocacy Network for Children. Seeking a motivated, creative professional to recruit, train, engage, and support CASA volunteers who advocate for children involved in the court system. Responsibilities include developing recruitment strategies, building community partnerships, coordinating volunteer training, and supporting volunteer engagement and retention. Marketing background and/or BA/BS preferred. Strong communication, relationship-building, marketing, recruitment, and organizational skills desired.

Benefits: Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance, SIMPLE IRA with up to 3% agency match, unlimited PTO after 90 days, 15 paid holidays, flexible schedule/remote work opportunities, and employee wellness benefits.

Send resume to Brittany Durst, CASA Manager, 1420 Harrison Quincy, IL 62301 or [email protected] by September 4, 2026. EOE

🌿 Tip Tuesday 🌿 Teach the Difference Between Surprises and Secrets One of the most important ways to help protect childr...
09/01/2026

🌿 Tip Tuesday 🌿
Teach the Difference Between Surprises and Secrets

One of the most important ways to help protect children is by teaching them the difference between surprises and secrets. These conversations can begin at a young age and become a natural part of talking about safety.

🎁 Surprises are fun, temporary, and meant to make someone happy. They are eventually shared with others—like a birthday present or planning a special celebration.

🚫 Unsafe secrets are different. If someone tells a child to keep a secret that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, confused, or worried, it's important they know they should tell a trusted adult right away. Safe adults do not ask children to keep secrets about:

- Touching or personal boundaries.
- Photos or videos of their body.
- Online conversations or messages.
- Gifts, favors, or special attention that must be kept hidden.
- Anything they are told they "can't tell Mom, Dad, or another trusted adult."

Remind children that they will never be in trouble for telling the truth. If someone asks them to keep an unsafe secret, they should:

✔️ Trust their feelings.
✔️ Tell a trusted adult as soon as possible.
✔️ Keep telling trusted adults until someone listens and helps.

Creating an environment where children know they will be believed, supported, and protected makes it more likely they will speak up if something doesn't feel right.

🎉 IT’S CASA TRAINING MONTH! 💙Have you been thinking about becoming a CASA volunteer? September is your chance to get sta...
09/01/2026

🎉 IT’S CASA TRAINING MONTH! 💙

Have you been thinking about becoming a CASA volunteer? September is your chance to get started!

Our Accelerated CASA Volunteer Training will be held the weekend of September 18 at our administrative office in Quincy.

CASA volunteers are everyday people who are trained to advocate for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. You don’t need a background in social work or the legal system — we’ll give you the training and support you need.

📅 Weekend of September 18
📍 1420 Harrison Street Quincy, IL

There’s still time to join our September training class!

📋 Interested in learning more? Fill out this brief interest form, and we’ll contact you with more information about becoming a CASA volunteer:

https://forms.gle/P64kZsH2T3NWp2iL7

💙 Change a Child’s Story. Become a CASA volunteer.

Address

1420 Harrison Street
Quincy, IL
62301

Telephone

+12172232272

Website

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