Founded by Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow in 1995 to provide HOPE, HEALING & JUSTICE for children who have endured sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, sexual exploitation, neglect & exposure to violence. Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) comprised of law enforcement, DCFS investigators, medical personnel, prosecutors, and Will County CAC forensic interviewers, family advocates, and trauma therapists provide:
• FORENSIC INTERVIEWS are conducted at the Will County Children's Advocacy Center after there has been a report to law enforcement or DCFS of a child (ages 3-17) involving severe physical abuse, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, child po*******hy, neglect, or exposure to violence. A forensic interview is a structured conversation with a child intended to elicit detailed information about a possible event(s) that the child may have experienced or witnessed. Forensic interviews provide children a safe place to share their story, in their own words, to experts who will listen, protect, and help them heal.
• FAMILY ADVOCATES assist the child and their non-offending parent/caregiver(s) throughout the life of the case. The family advocate listens to their concerns, and informs them about the dynamics of sexual abuse and the effects of trauma. During the forensic interview, the Family Advocate assesses needs in relation to housing assistance, domestic violence assistance, food assistance, mental health assistance, and any other verbalized needed assistance. After the forensic interview, the family advocate facilitates a meeting with the non-offending parent/caretaker(s) and the MDT. They can also coordinate a forensic medical exam at Edward Hospital & Health Service Care Center. As each case goes through the investigation, prosecution, and healing process, our family advocates help families understand the process, learn about their rights, and ensure that children and families get the culturally-sensitive support, education and resources they need to help them overcome the trauma of abuse.
• TRAUMA THERAPISTS provide information about how the abuse has impacted the child, and what next steps to take towards healing. Our trauma-certified Master's degree therapists create a comfortable, safe space for children to identify and overcome challenges, develop positive coping skills, build healthy relationships, and tell their trauma stories. Because children and adolescents respond in many different ways to traumatic events, we provide therapists that are prepared to provide the very best therapy that research and science have to offer, using the following array of treatment modalities:
** Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): an evidenced-based, components-based approach to working with children and adolescents that integrates trauma-sensitive interventions, cognitive behavioral principles of gradual exposure, integrating attachment, development and family based models in order to address symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety associated with exposure to overwhelming life events. It is designed and proven to be effective in helping children ages 3-17, and their non-offending caregivers, overcome the impact of traumatic events.
** Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): a therapeutic technique, using bilateral stimulation, that allows children who have been exposed to disturbing, and possibly traumatizing events to activate the nervous system’s natural mechanisms for processing the memories. The child does not forget the experience, but is able to integrate it so it can be recalled instead of being re-experienced.
** Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI): a brief (5‐8 session), evidence‐based early intervention for children 7 to 18 years old that reduces traumatic stress reactions and the onset of PTSD. CFTSI is implemented within 30-45 days following a traumatic event or the disclosure of physical or sexual abuse. CFTSI is used successfully with children with extensive trauma histories. In addition, CFTSI can act as a seamless introduction to longer‐term treatment and other mental health interventions when necessary. Children may experience anxiety, depression, and withdrawal from normal activities, in response to a traumatic event. Children also may develop behavior problems, as they have difficulty managing their feelings and thoughts about what happened to them. Some problems may be very specific to the abuse. He or she may avoid locations where the abuse occurred (such as a bathroom, bedroom, or school) to avoid a feeling of re-experiencing the abuse. In addition, a child may attempt to cope by using drugs and alcohol or engaging in other “risky” behaviors. The consequences of untreated traumatic stress can affect a child’s success in school or their relationships with friends and family, and this can continue to impact an individual throughout his or her life.
