Institute of Politics

Overview of Organization: The National Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Association promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy for children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect. The National CASA Association spans 49 states and the District of Columbia. CASA of Cook County was established in 1986. It is the largest urban community-based CASA agency in Illinois and among over a thousand CASA programs nationally. CASA of Cook County’s thirty eight year advocacy history entails serving over 7,000 foster children and youth who have experienced abuse and neglect.

The mission of CASA of Cook County is to advance foster care child advocacy for children in Cook County by ensuring that their needs are met and rights are protected; by transitioning out of foster care into permanent, safe, and loving homes as quickly as possible; and that youth aging out of foster care have the resources and support they need to live independently.

Internship Overview: In this internship with CASA of Cook County, the student will have the opportunity to engage in an impactful agency and work closely with the Chief Deputy of Policy and Operations Vanessa Y. White, PhD. The intern in this role will contribute to the work of CASA of Cook County through policy research and analysis of child welfare laws, foster care policies, and judicial advocacy. They will track any new legislation and policy developments that may impact CASA programs and the children they serve and be used to create content for a statewide or national conference. They may assist with creating policy briefs, reports, and advocacy material for fund development to expand support for one of CASA’s specialized programs that supports youth preparing to age out of the foster care system..

Responsibilities:

• Researching policy related to child welfare and the foster care system
• Organizing data and creating comprehensive visual representations
• Create compelling narratives based on data
• Assist in the development of a statewide or national conference
• Research grant opportunities and develop materials for fund and organizational development

Preferred Qualifications:

• Genuine passion for the wellbeing of children and youth, especially those disproportionately represented in the child welfare system
• A compassionate and unbiased approach toward the youth and families we serve
• Ability to work independently
• Strong communication skills
• Strong writing skills
• Data collection and visualization skills
• Solution-oriented
• Flexibility and ability to shift priorities quickly

About the Supervisor: Your supervisor will be Dr. Vanessa White, Chief Deputy of Policy and Operations for CASA of Cook County. Dr. White is a reliable strategic thought leader and experienced professional, with a PhD and MBA. She has exhibited distinguished performance in strategy and organizational development, problem-solving, change management, program, curriculum and policy development, community engagement, relationship management, and process improvement. Her range of experience includes nonprofit leadership, public policy leadership, child and family wellbeing, education, city government, parent and community organizing, stakeholder engagement, community development, youth development, grant writing, and research. Dr. White is a dedicated public servant who served as a CASA volunteer early on in her career and now has a leadership role within the organization.

Modality: This position is primarily remote. Dr. White will schedule regular in-person meetings to check in and collaborate on projects with the intern in the Hyde Park / Kenwood area.

Start and End Date: Summer internships will take place during the period of June 9 - September 26, with specific dates to be determined by the employer partner and intern during the interview process.