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The plan
Last year, about 25 percent of court cases involving abused or neglected children in Kane County ended in adoption, according to CASA Kane County.
CASA is a nonprofit organization that aims to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in court hearings.
The group’s volunteers represent 515 children in Kane County from 318 families. Annually, between 125 and 130 of these children are adopted.
CASA representatives said the 16th District Judicial Court in Kane County has a goal to return children to their birth parents or guardians in every case, but that’s not always possible.
The impact
Judges will not order children to return home if it’s not a safe or nurturing environment.
When a case involving an abused or neglected child or children comes to Kane County, the child or children are placed in a foster home for up to one to two years.
Deb McQuaid, CASA’s director of advocate education, said parents have a chance to improve the home environment for children within that time.
She said a judge can order parents to take anger management classes, parenting classes, receive substance abuse treatment or mental health treatment, depending on the case.
“The judge looks at their efforts and if they’re making progress,” McQuaid said.
She said for serious drug addicts, one or two years might not be enough to turn their lives around, and their child might be adopted.
Cathy McCory, program specialist for CASA, said some of the parents who adopt live in Kane County where the child’s birth parents live, but many live elsewhere.
“Every case is different,” McCoy said. “Many children still have relationships with their birth parents. And in many cases, the parents are nowhere to be found.”
The plan
Last year, about 25 percent of court cases involving abused or neglected children in Kane County ended in adoption, according to CASA Kane County.
CASA is a nonprofit organization that aims to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in court hearings.
The group’s volunteers represent 515 children in Kane County from 318 families. Annually, between 125 and 130 of these children are adopted.
CASA representatives said the 16th District Judicial Court in Kane County has a goal to return children to their birth parents or guardians in every case, but that’s not always possible.
The impact
Judges will not order children to return home if it’s not a safe or nurturing environment.
When a case involving an abused or neglected child or children comes to Kane County, the child or children are placed in a foster home for up to one to two years.
Deb McQuaid, CASA’s director of advocate education, said parents have a chance to improve the home environment for children within that time.
She said a judge can order parents to take anger management classes, parenting classes, receive substance abuse treatment or mental health treatment, depending on the case.
“The judge looks at their efforts and if they’re making progress,” McQuaid said.
She said for serious drug addicts, one or two years might not be enough to turn their lives around, and their child might be adopted.
Cathy McCory, program specialist for CASA, said some of the parents who adopt live in Kane County where the child’s birth parents live, but many live elsewhere.
“Every case is different,” McCoy said. “Many children still have relationships with their birth parents. And in many cases, the parents are nowhere to be found.”
