Will County Children's Advocacy Center

In 1995, Will County State's Attorney James W. Glasgow, established the Will County Children's Advocacy Center offering services and advocacy to children who were victims of sexual abuse and severe physical abuse. These services included child-sensitive interviews for law enforcement purposes, counseling, medical exams, and community resource referrals.

The Will County Children's Advocacy Center and our MDT partners are the front-line responders to reports of sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, sexual exploitation, child pornography, neglect, and exposure to violence of children, ages 3-17, in Will County, Illinois.

In 1995, Will County State's Attorney James W. Glasgow, established the Will County Children's Advocacy Center in order to improve the integrity of all investigations into allegations of child sexual abuse, while providing hope, healing and justice for the children and their families.

Last year, the Will County Children's Advocacy Center provided hope, healing and justice for more than 700 children (and their non-offending family members) who who endured physical and sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, child pornography, neglect, and exposure to violence. Our average client is a 10-11 year-old girl, sexually abused by someone she knows and trusts.

Our Board of Directors represents a cross-section of Will County community leaders who passionately advocate on behalf of children who have endured sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, sexual exploitation, child pornography, neglect, and exposure to violence. They provide strategic leadership, ensure long-term sustainability, and provide the oversight needed to achieve our mission and goals.

Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) are the foundation of our response to allegations of child abuse. Without a CAC, a child may end up having to tell the worst story of their life repeatedly to those trying to help - like doctors, lawyers, judges, and officers.

However, with the CAC, children come to our safe and child-friendly environment where they tell what happened to a trained forensic interviewer who knows how to ask questions in a way that does not traumatize the child.Before the interview, during the interview, and post interview, our multidisciplinary team (MDT) of professionals work together to make decisions about how to help the alleged victim and their family throughout the case.