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Joli Burrell Children's Advocacy Center
The La Rabida Joli Burrell Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) is a safe, child-friendly environment for children who have experienced psychological trauma and for alleged victims of sexual abuse and other violent crimes. The CAC provides investigative, therapeutic and support services free of charge to children and their families throughout South Suburban Cook County.
Investigative Services
The CAC seeks to reduce the level of stress a child experiences during an investigation of alleged sexual abuse or other violent crimes. We do this by coordinating a Victim Sensitive Interview (VSI), a child-sensitive interview conducted by professionals with training in child behavioral and mental health and forensic interviewing. To reduce the number of times a child is interviewed, VSIs are observed by professionals from law enforcement, child protective services and the State's Attorney’s Office. Referrals for a VSI are made by police or child protection investigators serving the south suburbs and the 6th Congressional District of Cook County.
Therapeutic Services
The CAC offers personalized, high-quality clinical services provided by licensed clinical psychologists, licensed social workers and psychology trainees. All clinical staff have expertise in child abuse and trauma. Specialized therapeutic services provided at the CAC include trauma-focused and abuse-focused assessment and psychotherapy, and psychotherapy for young foster children with sexual behavior problems.
The center also provides services to children who have experienced the full range of potentially traumatic events, including:
- Severe physical abuse, torture
- Witnessing homicide, rape or domestic violence
- Burns, fires
- Violent crime
- Dog attacks
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Loss through violent death, traumatic bereavement
Support Services
In addition to individual services for children exposed to trauma, the CAC offers an array of specialized support services to children and their families. These include:
- Case management and referral services
- Legal advocacy, court preparation and court accompaniment
Contact Us
For details or to make a referral for therapeutic or support services, contact:
La Rabida Joli Burrell Children’s Advocacy Center
200 Lakewood Boulevard
Park Forest, Illinois 60466
Phone: 708.481.9799
Fax: 708.481.9951
Send an email or view the brochure.
All services are provided to families free of charge thanks to funding from Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the Illinois Attorney General's Office, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, private foundations and individual donors.