How The CAC Model Works

Understanding Why Children Need Advocacy Centers

To understand what a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is, you must understand what children face without one.

Without a CAC, the child may end up having to relive a difficult experience multiple time when being questioned by doctors, law enforcement, lawyers, therapists, investigators, judges, and others. 

When police or child protective services believe a child is being abused, the child is brought to the CAC—a safe, child-focused environment—by a caregiver or other “safe” adult.

At the CAC, the child tells their story once to a trained interviewer who knows the right questions to ask in a way that does not re-traumatize the child. Then, a team that includes medical professionals, law enforcement, mental health, prosecution, child protective services, victim advocacy, and other professionals make decisions together about how to help the child based on the interview.

CAC’s offer therapy and medical exams, plus courtroom preparation, victim advocacy, case management, and other services. This is called the multidisciplinary team (MDT) response and is a core part of the work of CACs.

Graphic is credited to the National Children’s Alliance

  • The LCCAC is accredited through the National Children’s Alliance which assures the highest standard of care to the victims we serve and is a member of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois. The LCCAC has operated as a nonprofit organization (501) (c) (3) since 1987.

 

  • The LCCAC is the only Children’s Advocacy Center in Lake County. We provide services to children ages birth – 18 years, as well as developmentally disabled adults.

 

  • The LCCAC is committed to adhering to research-based forensic interview guidelines that create an interview environment that enhances free recall, minimizes interviewer influence and gathers information for the MDT (Multi-Disciplinary Team) so the child will not have to be interviewed multiple times.