CASA Lake County welcomes volunteers to fight child abuse

CASA Lake County hosted a Thank You reception for new supporters and friends dedicated to fighting child abuse in Lake County. Judges Valerie Ceckowski and Sarah P. Lessman provided inspirational remarks to dozens of guests which included 10 soon-to -be sworn- in CASA University graduates.

Lundbeck, a Deerfield pharmaceutical company, was applauded for their support.

CASA Board Member and Lundbeck Vice President Daniel Brennan and CASA Executive Director Terri Zenner Greenberg unveiled the plaque dedicating the “2014 Lundbeck Volunteer Training Room.”

Brennan said, “I am honored to say that I am also a CASA volunteer and am so fortunate to work for Lundbeck, a company dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk children living in our community.” Brennan went on to explain that “Lundbeck is committed to the development of therapies related to psychiatric and neurological problems, so our hard work and findings have a direct impact on helping abused children.”

Greenberg said, “Lundbeck’s research is helping CASA advocates recognize major neurological and psychiatric problems in these vulnerable children.”

According to Greenberg, about 90 percent of CASA’s children have these disorders. She cited a study by Sheryl Dicker and Elysa Gordon that revealed “young people in foster care are more likely than others to have developmental delays, medical needs and emotional problems. Nearly 80 percent of abused children are exposed to prenatal substance abuse and 40 percent are born premature or with low birth weight,” she added.

CASA has 297 volunteers on behalf of nearly 600 abused children who currently are assigned to the non-profit organization by judges in the Lake County Juvenile Court.

For information, call CASA Lake County at 847-383-6260 Ext. 217 or visit www.casalakecounty.com.