LaSalle County Children's Advocacy Center

Description

The LaSalle County Child Advocacy Center was created to provide service and assistance to children and their families who have experienced sexual abuse or serious physical injury by abuse. The Center is available to all of the county's vulnerable citizens, those individuals under the age of 18, and there is no fee required for the assistance given to them. An abused child will come to the center first to be interviewed by a person specially trained to talk to them. This interview will be observed away from the abused child by an investigative team made up of a member of the Center, a member of the State's Attorney's Office, a member of law enforcement, and a member of DCFS if required. By doing this, the abused child will not have to endure the re-telling of their abuse several times which lessens any further trauma to them. Based on what is learned from the interview, the investigative team will then plan a course of action to investigation the allegation of abuse. Prosecution of child abuse cases will be enhanced because all of the members of the investigative team will be involved in this process from the beginning. The investigative team will continue to work together until the abuse case has been resolved. Further, members of the medical and mental health communities will be consulted by the investigative team to ensure that the abused child receives the appropriate attention quickly.

T he child and their family will also meet with the Child Advocate who will assist them in finding just the right services, such as counseling, to help keep the family functioning as best as possible. The Advocate will assist or act on behalf of the abused child. The Advocate will help the abused child and their family by teaching them about what everyone is doing to help them.