What are Child Advocacy Centers?

The development of Child Advocacy Centers in Illinois began in DuPage County in 1987 under the leadership of then State's Attorney Jim Ryan. In 1989, specific requirements for the establishment and operation of Child Advocacy Centers in Illinois were formalized by the passage of the Child Advocacy Center Act.

Child Advocacy Centers are child-focused, facility based programs in which representatives from responsible agencies meet to discuss and make decisions about the investigation, treatment and prosecution of child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse cases. This multidisciplinary approach brings together under one umbrella all the professionals and agencies needed to offer comprehensive services: law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, mental health and the medical community.

Core Components of the Tazewell County Child Advocacy Center

• Separate, child-friendly facilities for interviewing and providing services to child victims and their non-offending family members
• Five core disciplines: law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, mental health and medical services
• Coordinated multidisciplinary investigation team
• Multidisciplinary case review
• Intensive case follow-up: child victims and their families receive specialized services as necessary, including court advocacy, medical and mental health services, and assistance with orders of protection
• On-site crisis counseling services
• Specially-trained forensic interviewers
• Comprehensive case tracking system

©2000 The Children's Advocacy Center