Not to be outdone, Pike County is making history too! Pike County’s first group of CASA Volunteers were sworn in. Getting better all the time around here! If you know any of them, send them flowers or chocolates or a card and tell them how awesome they are!

Making history in Hancock County! Our first Hancock County CASA class was sworn in! If you see these wonderful people out and about, please give them a pat on the back, say thank you or a thumbs up! We couldn’t provide our services without them. Just in case you haven’t heard of CASA they are 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.

Advocacy Network for Children recently hosted an in-service outlining the ways the Victim’s Compensation program can be utilized and what expenses can be reimbursed to provide much needed funds for victims. The training was free and open to any professional who interacts with at risk children and families in Adams, Brown, Cass, Hancock, McDonough, Morgan, Pike, Scott and Schuyler County. The presentation was given by Kimberly M Murray, Outreach Specialist in the Crime Victim Services Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.

The Illinois Crime Victims Compensation Act provides eligible victims of violent crime with up to $27,000 in financial assistance for certain out-of-pocket expenses resulting from the crime.

Kimberly did a great job explaining how our current laws dictate use of the funds, the various ways the compensation dollars can be utilized and how best to approach different situations.  We’re so glad she was able to join us and we look forward to being help to assist more people thanks to her willingness to also serve as a contact resource. 

Thank you Kimberly for coming down and thank you to all the attendees for their support.