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Montgomery proclaims April Child Abuse Prevention Month; local advocates outline long foster-care stays and services
Summary
Village President proclaimed April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Local CASA organizations, the Kane County Child Advocacy Center and hospital SART members described regional foster-care durations, case counts and services and asked the board and community for continued support.
Village President Brawley proclaimed April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and invited representatives of CASA programs, county child advocacy centers and hospital assault-response teams to summarize local services and needs.
The proclamation was presented during the Montgomery Village Board meeting, where local advocates described case counts, multiagency services and gaps in foster-care timelines. Christina (staff member) told the board that "since 2023, the Montgomery Police Department has reported 27 child abuse and assault related cases, 1 reported case of neglect, 1 report of child abandonment, and 6 reported endangering the life or health of child cases." She introduced CASA and Child Advocacy Center representatives who addressed the board.
Heidi Baird, identified in remarks as executive director of CASA in Kendall County, said Illinois leads the nation for the longest time children spend in foster care and summarized the local average: "Right now our statistics on average is 3.75 years, with a maximum we've seen of over 13 years." Baird urged community attention and support for families and children while describing the emotional difficulty of removal for children.
Kane County CASA representative Elizabeth Saraduk described placements in the region, saying agencies have placed children into Montgomery from other jurisdictions and that the organizations work to reunify families when safe. Staff from the Kane County Child Advocacy Center described the center's multidisciplinary model: forensic interviewers, investigators, victim advocates, contracted trauma counseling and on-site prosecutors to reduce repeated interviews for children. One interviewer said the center conducted 406 investigations in 2024 and reported 75 charged cases that year.
Montgomery Police Social Worker Erica Lopez, introduced during a short video the board showed, described the police social worker role in coordinating services and supporting officers and families. In summary remarks she said being one of the earliest local police social-worker programs "provides a resource to the community that is definitely needed," and staff noted Lopez handled more than 160 social-work cases in the community since joining in August 2023.
Advocates asked the village and residents to maintain cross-agency partnerships — law enforcement, social services, health care providers and faith and community groups — and to promote reporting and resources. The board read and approved the proclamation by voice vote.
The board photo and accompanying video highlighted the local police social-work role and the community coalition of CASA organizations, county prosecutors' child advocacy centers, hospital SART members and victim advocates.
The organizations represented at the meeting indicated they will continue outreach, education and multidisciplinary responses for child victims and asked the village to remain a partner in awareness and prevention efforts.
