Champaign County Children's Advocacy Center

Michael Williams, Executive Director

About CAC

What are Children's Advocacy Centers
Core Components of the Champaign County CAC
Governing Board & Staff of the CAC
Breaking the cycle of abuse - one child at a time
Abuse - A Community Problem
What you can do to help: Get Involved & Stay Informed
Individuals who are the voice of the child
Volunteers & Donations
How we benefit the community
Printable Version of this page (PDF)

How Our Center Benefits the Community

More immediate follow up to child abuse reports. By coordinating services for the child from the moment a case opens, the Center ensures immediate follow-up on reports of abuse as well as ongoing collaboration between the agencies.

More efficient medical and mental health referrals. Open communication and case coordination facilitates the timeliness with which the child and family receive needed service. Children receive prompt and ongoing services that are tailored to their specific needs and family situations. Interagency agreements between the Center and other social service agencies assure that children receive prompt medical care and mental health therapy.

Reduction in the number of child victim interviews. The multidisciplinary team coordinates the interview of the child and non-offending family members at the Center. By coordinating the interview, the child is not subjected to multiple interviews by multiple agencies involved in handling the case.

Increased successful prosecution. More offenders are held accountable through improved prosecution of child abuse cases. By coordinating the process of how information is collected and disseminated, child advocacy centers improve the quality of information provided to prosecutors and juvenile court attorneys. Experienced professionals who have been specially-trained to interview children thoroughly investigate allegations of abuse. Their child-focused approach produces a greater quantity of reliable information used in criminal, civil and juvenile court proceedings.

Consistent support for child victims and supportive adults. More non-offending parents are empowered to protect and support their children throughout the intervention process and beyond. The Center will assure that families receive specialized services when necessary. Through the Center, each child and his or her family is assisted throughout the process in both juvenile and criminal court.

If you suspect abuse, call your local police department or
the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
at 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873)