CBA Record Feb-March 2017

45 / 60

YLS Special Issue lPROTECTING OUR CHILDREN
in Cook County’s foster care system are
currently assigned a CASA.
Efforts to expand CASA’s reach are
underway. Recently arrived Executive
Director Mark Dinglasan and his team
are working around the clock to build
stronger relationships with the courts and
DCFS, create sustainable funding, and
create awareness for CASA’s work in Cook
County. Dinglasan is passionate about this:
“What I think is important to understand
is the kind of trauma our kids go through
leads to a lot of what we see in the papers.
There is a correlation between kids not
having a good foundation and what we’re
seeing in our city.” Helping lead the charge
to grow CASA of Cook County are Beatriz
Valdez, Director of Programs, and Lafay-
ette Young, Director of Recruitment and
Training. Being former caseworkers gives
Valdez and Young increased credibility.
Young’s focus is on expanding the
volunteer pool and providing continu-
ing education training for existing court
appointed advocates. Forward thinking,
he is actively raising awareness of CASA
at local law schools such as Loyola, John
Marshall, and DePaul as well as at several
social work programs. By working with
law students and social work students,
Young is able to educate diverse pools of
potential volunteers that would be inter-
ested in exposure and experience in the
courtroom.
Since becoming a court appointed
special advocate is also a unique volunteer
opportunity, Young has also worked to
enhance CASA of Cook County’s screen-
ing and training procedures for volunteers
to include such aspects as understanding
cultural bias, diversity, and understanding
trauma.
Valdez possesses a legal background that
serves CASA of Cook County very well in
her role as director of programs. Acting as
the primary contact between CASA and
its partners in the courtroomValdez meets
often with the judges in the child protec-
tion division as well as other key leaders
within DCFS and the juvenile justice
system to keep them abreast of CASA’s
work and ensure that the organization
is aligned with the overall work in the
juvenile justice system as a whole. Valdez
emphasizes, “All lawyers should be aware
of CASA. They advocate for the whole
family in the best interest of the youth.” A
misnomer is that only family law practitio-
ners will intersect with CASA. The reality
is that lawyers of all facets should be aware
and become informed as to the work of
CASAs. Valdez also leads CASA of Cook
County’s CITY or Creating Independent
Transitions for Youth program, a program
that provides key life skills for older foster
youth.
Jason MarcusWaak is historian and contrib-
uting editor for UIC Alumni Magazine. He
researches and writes on various aspects of
UIC, and naval and political history.
CASA of Cook County is continuing to grow as an organization thanks to the
efforts of Beatriz Valdez, Lafayette Young, and the rest of the CASA of Cook
County team. However, with only 1% of children in foster care having a CASA,
the work is far from over. For more information visit
or call 312/433-4928.
SAVE ON CASE MANAGEMENT
SOFTWARE
PracticePanther is a leading case management
software that helps attorneys easily manage
their time, expenses, client communications,
billing, matters, and more. Get started with a
special 15% off lifetime discount code for CBA
members. Call 800/856-8729 for details.
CBA RECORD 45