During Child Abuse Prevention Month, we’re highlighting a Difference Maker that works with kids who have witnessed or been victims of violence.
The Children’s Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County has expanded multiple times since its creation in 1989, growing to serve about 1,800 clients a year across 38 suburbs.
The charity takes pride in how it streamlined the system for interviewing young victims so they don’t have to relive multiple times moments of sexual abuse, domestic violence or other trauma.
Those discussions happen with forensic interviewers in relaxing rooms with stuffed animals and comfortable chairs, like one Chief Executive Officer Melanie Pignotti showed us during a tour of CAC’s office in Hoffman Estates.
CAC
Police, state’s attorneys, DCFS investigators and other members of a multidisciplinary team watch the interviews on a closed feed in another part of the building, which is an old farmhouse.
“So they’re participating in this overall process to get the information that they need for their investigation but the child is only having to talk to one person,” Pignotti said.
Details from about 450 forensic interviews each year are used to potentially pursue criminal charges - or exonerate suspects.
Pignotti explained victim advocates CAC assigns to help families are “providing support and resources. They’ll go to the courthouse with families… and make sure that the child and their family understand a very complex criminal justice system.”
Lisa McComb, who serves on CAC’s board of directors, notes sometimes they hear from victims months after a visit.
“They feel comfortable here and when they get ready in their own mind or heart, they’ll come back and then they’ll share. So it’s more about we’ve the space for you. You’re safe here, whenever you’re ready,” she said.
The charity is funded by government grants, as well as contributions from foundations and private donors.
CAC is offering tours and a chance to meet its therapy dog named Dora during an open house on April 30th.
CAC
