Mission

The mission of the Rock Island County Children’s Advocacy Center is to reduce trauma to children utilizing multi-disciplinary team investigations of abuse.

We serve children under the age of 18 who have been the victim of sexual or physical abuse. All children are referred by Law Enforcement or the Department of Children and Family Services to be interviewed at our center about the abuse. The purpose is to coordinate and track the investigations, medical treatment, counseling referrals, prosecution and training in order to protect the best interest of the victims and their families.

What We Do?

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, law enforcement, 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 teacher or other adult that could hurt the case against the abuser.

When police or Department of Children and Family 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. CACs offer therapy and medical exams, plus courtroom preparation, victim advocacy, case management, and other services. This is called the multidisciplinary team (MDT) response and is a core part of the work of CACs.

Without CACs, children would have to speak to 10-12 different people during an investigation of child abuse, repeating their story many times. Since the creation of CACs, children are able to visit the CAC and talk to one person while the MDT views the interview & coordinates the investigation.

Hiring: Child Therapist

The therapist will provide evidence-based, trauma-focused therapeutic services to children 5-18 years old and their non-offending caregivers. The therapist will work primarily with children and families who have experienced trauma, such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, or witness to a traumatic event. As part of the CAC model, the therapist will be an important part of the team that consists of child protective agencies, law enforcement officials, medical providers, prosecutors, and other professionals. For more information or to send resume:  riccacinfo@riccac.org

Hiring: Family Advocate

Position Summary
The Family Advocate provides trauma-informed advocacy, crisis intervention, support, and case management services to child victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and other forms of child maltreatment, as well as their non-offending caregivers. The Family Advocate serves as the primary point of contact for families throughout their involvement with the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC), ensuring they receive information, emotional support, referrals, and assistance navigating the multidisciplinary investigative and treatment process. The Family Advocate coordinates and facilitates access to victim services, including medical care, mental health treatment, victim compensation, legal resources, and other community services. The Family Advocate actively participates as a member of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) and collaborates with law enforcement, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), prosecutors, medical providers, mental health professionals, and other partner agencies to promote the safety and well-being of children and families. For more information or to send resume:  riccacinfo@riccac.org

Administrative Assistant

Position Summary
The Rock Island County Children's Advocacy Center (RICCAC) is seeking a detail-oriented and organized Part-Time Administrative Assistant to provide administrative, bookkeeping, and general office support. This position offers flexible scheduling and could become a hybrid work environment, allowing work to be completed both remotely and in the office as needed. The ideal candidate will have experience with QuickBooks, strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining confidentiality. Experience working with nonprofit organizations and knowledge of grant applications and grant reporting is highly desirable. For more information, please click the link or send an email to riccacinfo@riccac.org for more information.

Children's Advocacy Center FY 2025 Statistics

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