(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The volunteers in who advocate for children in foster care have a special name: CASAs.
Jan Kiger is one of them.
"CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate, and CASAs are volunteers who stand up for children and give them a voice in court," she explains.
They're active in family courts in all counties in the region, but they're in short supply.
There is intensive training, but the volunteers don't necessarily have legal backgrounds. Kiger says the time investment can be 10 hours a month.
There can be a revolving door of case managers, therapists and foster homes, but the one constant is the child's CASA.
"A CASA can change a placement, a CASA has amazing powers and amazing ability to help a child when they need it and protect them. We save lives," Kiger says.
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