What is a Children's Advocacy Center?
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 tell the worst story of his or her life over and over again, to doctors, police, lawyers, therapists, investigators, judges, and others. They may have to talk about that traumatic experience in a police station where they think they might be in trouble, or may be asked the wrong questions by a well-meaning adult that could hurt the case against the abuser.
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 retraumatize 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. This is called the multidisciplinary team (MDT) response and is a core part of the work of CACs. CACs offer referrals to therapy, medical exams, courtroom preparation, victim advocacy and other needed services.
APRIL HOUSE'S MISSION
To bring together a multidisciplinary team of professionals committed to provide healing and justice for children who have endured physical abuse, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, child pornography, neglect and exposure to violence in a child-focused, trauma-informed environment.
April House of Whiteside County Goals
- Help make the process as comfortable as possible for the children and families we serve
- Help families understand the legal and child protective system
- Do our best to find out "what happened"
- Work with legal and child protective systems to help the children we serve
- Help children and families begin to heal
- Offer resources and information to children and their families
Resources
Guiding You Through the System
A handbook for caregivers of children who have experienced abuse
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Local Resources
A listing of local resources and books helpful for our families
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Helping Anxious Children
Ten proven strategies for helping an anxious child
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The Mama Bear Effect
Down-to-earth educational resources help families and communities all over the world Rock the Talk® to raise awareness and protect children from the threat of sexual abuse.
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Mothers of Sexually Abused Children
Designed specifically for mothers who have experienced the sexual abuse of one of their children
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National Children's Advocacy Center
Since its creation in 1985, the National Children’s Advocacy Center has served as a model for the 950+ Children’s Advocacy Centers now operating in the United States and in more than 33 countries throughout the world.
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Giving
April House Children's Advocacy Center is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. Every gift is tax-deductible, and we appreciate donations of any amount.
$200 sponsors one forensic interview
$100 assists with therapy for a child
$50 provides 1 hour of family advocacy
Monetary donations can be mailed to April House at 501, N. Madison St., Morrison, IL 61270.
Considering something other than a monetary donation? Shop AmazonSmile and select April House as your charitable organization. Additionally, we hope you might consider donating a new item to replenish our supplies. Drop off any of the following at our office at 501 N. Madison St., Morrison, IL. Feel free to call us at 815-772-5286 in advance to make sure someone will be available to accept your donation.
- Gift cards (gas, grocery, restaurant)
- Juice boxes
- Individually wrapped snacks
- Kleenex
- Journals
- Art supplies (gel pens, markers)
- Handheld video games
- Children's DVDs
- Children's books
- Sidewalk chalk
- Sports balls/Frisbees
- 16+gb flash drives
- Fidget toys
- Hair ties/bows
- Matchbox cars
- First Aid items/kits
- Bubbles
- Pinwheels
- Children's blankets
- Cards/card games
- Bottled water