The CAC Process
Without a Child Advocacy Center, a child may end up having to tell the worst event of their life over and over again to family members, doctors, police, lawyers, therapists, investigators, and others to get the support they need.
The CAC process is an efficient, compassionate response to child abuse that puts children first.
The purpose of the Child Advocacy Center is to:
- Minimize the effects of trauma in child abuse victims and their families.
- Provide a coordinated approach to child abuse investigations and intervention.
- Identify child abusers and holds them accountable.
- Ensure victims receive support, advocacy, mental health treatment and social service referrals.
- Handle all reported cases of child sexual or severe physical abuse in Kane County in a consistent, child-friendly, and trauma-sensitive manner.
What is the CAC Process?
After DCFS or a police department refer a case of child abuse to the Child Advocacy Center, the child is brought to the CAC — a safe, child-focused environment — by a caregiver or another trusted adult. A trained interviewer uses child-focused questions and trauma-informed techniques to support the child as tell their story in their own words
A Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) including child victim and family advocates, licensed medical professionals, law enforcement, mental health providers, prosecution, child protective services, and other trauma-informed professionals collaborate to support the child and affected family members. CACs also provide a wide range of services and resources such as therapy, medical exams, courtroom preparation, victim advocacy, case management.
Graphic credited to the National Children's Alliance (NCA)
Why do Children need Child Advocacy Centers?
- Every year more than 600,00 children are abused in the United States. This statistic only represents the child abuse that was reported to DCFS or law enforcement.
- Child Advocacy Centers serve more than 380,000 children and families across the United States every year.
- Child Advocacy Centers educate more than 1.5 million people each year, helping to stop and prevent abuse.
As of June 2023, NCA-accredited Children's Advocacy Centers served 2,253 counties, or 72% of the counties across the United States.
Graphics and statistics are credited to the National Children's Alliance.
Abuse intervention and prevention is essential for children's health and wellness.
CACs reduce symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which may present itself in children through behavioral changes, increased nightmares, having trouble concentrating, feeling lonely, not wanting to play, and having intrusive thoughts. The statistics below were collected and calculated by the NCA using the Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS), and shows the results of that assessment before and after receiving services and support at a Child Advocacy Center. Following the trauma-informed mental health-based treatment, both children and their caregivers reported lower levels of PTSD symptoms.
The statistics above were collected and calculated by the NCA using the Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS), and shows the results of that assessment before and after receiving services and support at a Child Advocacy Center. Following the trauma-informed mental health based treatment, both children and their caregivers reported lower levels of PTSD symptoms.
Graphic credited to the National Children's Alliance.
Caregivers leave Child Advocacy Centers feeling better.
- 97% of caregivers agree their children feel safe at Child Advocacy Centers.
- 95% agree they received necessary information that helped them understand child abuse prevention and how to keep children safe in the future.
- 97% agree that they would recommend a Child Advocacy Center to others in a similar situation.
Statistics credited to the National Children's Alliance (NCA).
