Announcements

A pharmaceutical company that specializes in developing medicines for psychiatric and neurological disorders, and CASA Lake County have decided to partner in a pioneering education program.  "Approximately 90 percent of the children for whom CASA volunteers advocate are affected by psychiatric and neurological disorders," said Terri Zenner Greenberg, Executive Director of CASA Lake County, located in Vernon Hills, Illinois.

In recognition of this partnership, on Thursday, April 5 CASA unveiled a plaque which named their meeting and training room for Lundbeck.  The U.S. headquarters of Lundbeck are in Deerfield, IL.

The company is also developing a curriculum that will teach CASA advocates (volunteers) how to recognize major neurological or psychiatric disorders in children, understand why they occur, what to look for as symptoms, and what services are available for children with these types of disorders.  CASA volunteers complete 40 hours of training before being sworn in as officers of the Juvenile Court, and working as advocates for the welfare of the abused and neglected children to whose cases they are assigned.

CASA's well-trained and professionally managed volunteers work in collaboration with key agencies, legal counsel and community resources to serve as the child's advocate and to represent the child's best interests in juvenile court.

Greenberg said, "This is a natural partnership."  Dan Brennan, Lundbeck Vice President who once was a CASA advocate, agreed.  He said that Lundbeck is committed to making a difference for people with psychiatric and neurological disorders and that supporting this education program is an essential part of the company's mission since many abused and neglected children suffer from these problems.

H. Lundbeck A/S based in Denmark, has about 6,000 employees with 1,200 engaged in research.  The company is 70 percent owned by the Lundbeck Foundation with the remainder owned by the public whose stock is traded on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.

Brennan said that once this initial training course is fully developed and refined it could go nationwide and beyond to help abused children.

Greenberg cited a study done by Sheryl Dicker and Elysa Gordon, The Essential Advocate:  Using CASAs to Promote Child Well-Being, a publication of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.  "Children in foster care are far more likely than all other children to have serious medical problems, developmental delays and emotional difficulties.  Nearly 80 percent are prenatally exposed to substance abuse, and 40 percent are born with low birth weight and/or premature."

The study also stated that the "vast majority suffers from serious, chronic medical conditions; more than half experience developmental delays; and between 35 and 50 percent have significant emotional and behavioral health problems.  Their risks for poor health often are compounded by their parents' drug and alcohol addiction, limited cognitive abilities, serious mental illness, and domestic violence."  Brennan said children who have been abused are at a significantly increased risk for a host of developmental, psychiatric, and neurological problems.

Greenberg said Lundbeck also agreed to provide training manuals and recognized that Lundbeck products will not be mentioned as part of the training.

Brennan thought the training module would be about three hours, and will be part of the 12 hours of continuing education CASA volunteers are required to complete every year.  In addition to this program, CASA Lake County will develop additional volunteer activities and actions for Lundbeck employees related to the training.

Several Lundbeck executives, including Staffan Schuberg, President of Lundbeck, CASA board members, and other company officials attended the dedication of the training room.