La Rabida’s Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC), located south of Chicago in Park Forest, serves children who have experienced child abuse, sexual abuse, and violent crime. To expand access to services and improve the quality of care, the CAC recently completed a series of renovations to their facility that will improve the safety, well-being, and security of our kids.

The CAC takes a multidisciplinary team approach that combines efforts of law enforcement, child protection investigators, prosecutors, medical personnel, and mental health providers to provide the best possible outcomes for children who have experienced abuse and violent crime. From the coordination of investigations, forensic interviews, advocating on behalf of the child, and providing support and case management services, our team at the CAC is there every step of the way as a child’s case progresses through the criminal justice and child protection systems.

Nearly 70% of the children served by the CAC come from low income households. Our advocates at the CAC assist families impacted by child abuse and mistreatment by offering emotional and crisis support and helping families secure resources such as housing, employment, public aid, mental health care, and medical services. With few service providers in the area, the CAC meets the needs of an underserved community, often providing the only connection families have to necessary resources. Year after year the CAC continues to see a growing number of cases, serving more than 600 children in the past year.

The recent improvements at the CAC include a new waiting room and interview room that allows staff to see multiple families at a time and a kitchen to provide children with a meal if they do not have easy access to food. The team also installed window treatments to improve privacy, soundproofing in the interview rooms, an enhanced security system, and new flooring for easier accessibility.

The goal of these updates were to improve the safety, well-being, and security of our children and families while they are at the CAC. These important improvements were made possible thanks to the support of volunteers, donors, and grants.