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McLean County CASA program expansion approved; DCFS funding covers McLean, Logan and potential Ford operations
Summary
The Justice Committee approved CASA agreements July 9. DCFS funding for FY2026 reflects expansion: $129,671 earmarked for McLean operations and $189,310 for Ford and Logan operations if planned expansions occur; an attorney general/state grant award of $43,981 also was noted.
The McLean County Justice Committee on July 9 approved agreements involving Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) covering operations in McLean and Logan counties and a separate agreement with the Illinois attorney general's office.
Staff told the committee that the DCFS grant for FY2026 assumes CASA operations in McLean, Logan and a planned move into Ford County. The presenter reported $129,671 “just for McLean County operations” and $189,310 intended for Ford and Logan operations if the expansion proceeds as planned. The presenter said the two budgets were submitted together because CASA provided a single agreement.
The committee also approved an agreement tied to an attorney general grant. The presenter said CASA received a $3,981 increase from FY2025 for a state grant (referred to in discussion as the VCVA grant) and that this year’s award for that program was $43,981; the presenter placed the full expenditure outline in the meeting memo.
Board members asked no substantive questions and approved the motions by voice vote. The record shows motions and seconding board members for the CASA items and that each item carried; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.
Why it matters: CASA provides court-appointed advocates for children in dependency and neglect cases. The DCFS funding and multi-county arrangement affect program capacity and where advocates will be assigned as CASA expands its service area.
Committee members and staff noted that CASA expansion and funding assumptions depend on DCFS allocations and planned operations in Ford County; the transcript does not show a final confirmation that Ford County operations are contracted or funded beyond the presented FY2026 assumptions.
