cac content

Children's Advocacy Centers

The Children's Advocacy Centers (CAC) are a new way of serving child victims of sexual abuse or serious physical abuse through a comprehensive approach to services for victims and their families. The Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) provides a safe, neutral, child-friendly environment where child victims of non-offending families meet with members of a multidisciplinary team of professionals for the purpose of investigation. The Children's Advocacy Center staff provides advocacy services and help bridge the gap between social services, law enforcement, and the court system.

What happens at the CAC?

When a child victim arrives at the center CAC staff greets the child victim and non-offending family making the child comfortable in one of the age appropriate waiting areas.

The child meets the trained child forensic interviewer and other team members who are present. The interview occurs in an age appropriate, child sensitive room. Every interview at the CAC is videotaped for the purpose of investigation. The videotape reduces the number of times a child victim must tell his or her story. Professionals participating in the investigation may view the videotape. Although the videotape may be used as evidence in court, it does not eliminate the child's testimony if the case goes to trial.

During the interview, CAC staff meets with non-offending family to obtain pertinent information such as telephone numbers and addresses so that CAC staff will have a means of ongoing communication with the family. CAC staff will explain the investigation process to the family. Medical and mental health (counseling) referrals will be made when appropriate.

The multidisciplinary team member(s) talk with the non-offending family while at the center.

What is a Multidisciplinary Team?

The multidisciplinary team (MDT) is made up of professionals who work together throughout the investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse cases.

The MDT, coordinated by CAC staff, meets regularly to discuss the progress of each case.

Members of the team are:

CAC staff
State's Attorney
Members of law enforcement including the Sheriff's Department, Police Departments, and Illinois State Police
Mental Health Representative
Medical Representative

Adams County Child Advocacy Center

531 Hampshire Street, 2nd floor
Quincy, IL 62301
Phone (217) 223-2272
Fax (217) 223-6791

Staff Executive Director:
Clairice Hetzler
can4kids@adams.net

CAC Coordinator:
Brooke Baldwin
cac@adams.net

Purpose: To set up multidisciplinary interviews for child abuse case investigations and maintain contact with all involved parties through the process of the case. The Coordinator also assists in the continued development and operation of the agency.

Child and Family Advocate:
Diane Pieper
can@adams.net

Purpose: To set up multidisciplinary interviews for child abuse case investigations and maintain contact with all involved parties through the process of the case. The Coordinator also assists in the continued development and operation of the agency.

The Children's Advocacy Center of Adams County is located in Quincy, IL. It is the county seat and isthe largest town in Adams County. The facility is located less than a block from the courthouse, state's attorney's office, sheriff's office and only a few blocks from the Quincy Police Department and the Department of Children and Family Services. The administrative offices of Children's Action Network are located in this facility. Purpose: To reduce the systematic trauma to the child victim and non-offending family members. To advocate for successful case outcomes for the child victim. To empower and strenghten non-offending family members in their support of the child victim. To encouragebetter treatment for the child victim.

Brown County Child Advocacy Center Satellite Location

McNeff Hall
105 E. South Street
Mt. Sterling, IL
(217) 322-3836
Phone: (800) 574-0209
Fax (217) 322-3945

Executive Director
Clairice Hetzler
can4kids@adams.net

CAC Coordinator
Alison Armstrong
tricocac@frontiernet.net

Purpose: To set up multidisciplinary interviews for child abuse case investigations and maintain contact with all involved parties through the process of the case. The Coordinator also assists in the continued development and operation of the agency.

The Children's Advocacy Center of Brown County is part of the Tri-County CAC satellite office of Children's Action Network. Tri-County serves the rural communities of Brown, Cass and Schuyler counties in Illinois. Interview sites are located in each county. The Brown county interview site is located in Mount Sterling, IL, the county seat. Interview sites in each county reduce the amount of travel needed for the child and family to meet with the Multidisciplinary Team. All case records are maintained in the Tri-County office located in Rushville, IL. A 1-800 telephone number allows victims/families and the MDT members access to the CAC staff without cost. The CAC Coordinator resides locally in the Tri-County area and participates in local organizations and networks with other agencies in the community.

Cass County Child Advocacy Center Satellite Location

Department of Children and Family Services
121 East 2nd Street
Beardstown, IL
(217) 322-3836
Phone: (800) 574-0209
Fax: (217) 322-3945

Executive Director
Clairice Hetzler
can4kids@adams.net

CAC Coordinator
Alison Armstrong
tricocac@frontiernet.net

Purpose: To set up multidisciplinary interviews for child abuse case investigations and maintain contact with all involved parties through the process of the case. The Coordinator also assists in the continued development and operation of the agency.

The Children's Advocacy Center of Cass County is part of the Tri-County CAC satellite office of Children's Action Network. Tri-County serves the rural communities of Brown, Cass and Schuyler counties in Illinois. Interview sites are located in each county. The Cass county interview site is located in Beardstown, IL, the county seat. This facility is handicapped accessible. Interview sites in each county reduce the amount of travel needed for the child and family to meet with the Multidisciplinary Team. All case records are maintained in the Tri-County office located in Rushville, IL. A 1-800 telephone number allows victims/families and the MDT members access to the CAC staff without cost. TheCAC Coordinator resides locally in the Tri-County area and participates in local organizations and networks with other agencies in the community.

The Schuyler county location serves as the office for the Tri-County CAC. The CAC office is located in an isolated area of the United Methodist Church in Rushville, IL. There is an outside entrance near the office. The office and all case records are securely locked and the office is not part of the church's master key system. Interviews are not conducted at times of church functions in order to maintain a level of privacy for the victims and families. The church allows the CAC to use the church hall for training and meetings as needed.

Hancock County Child Advocacy Center Satellite Location

First Baptist Church
601 Main Street
Carthage, IL
(217) 357-9455
(866) 657-9455
Fax (217) 357-9456

Executive Director
Clairice Hetzler
can4kids@adams.net

CAC Coordinator
Alison Armstrong
tricocac@frontiernet.net

Purpose: To set up multidisciplinary interviews for child abuse case investigations and maintain contact with all involved parties through the process of the case. The Coordinator also assists in the continued development and operation of the agency.

The Children's Advocacy Center of Hancock County is part of the Hancock-McDonough CAC satellite office of Children's Action Network. The Hancock-McDonough CAC serves the communities of Hancock and McDonough counties in Illinois. Interview sites are located in each county. The Hancock county interview site is located in Carthage, IL, the county seat and is less than a block from the courthouse. This facility is handicapped accessible. Interview sites in each county reduce the amount of travel needed for the child and family to meet with the Multi-disciplinary Team. All case records are maintained in the Hancock County office in Carthage, IL. A 1-800 telephone number allows victims/families and the MDT members access to the CAC staff without cost. The CAC Coordinator resides locally in the Hancock-McDonough county area and participates in local organizations and networks with other agencies in the community.

The Hancock county location serves as the office for both the Hancock and McDonough CAC. The CAC office is located in an isolated area of the First Baptist Church. There is an outside entrance at the rear of the church near the office. The office and all case records are securely locked and the office is not part of the church's master key system. Interviews are not conducted at times of church functions in order to maintain a level of privacy for the victims and families. The church allows the CAC to use the church for training and meetings as needed.

McDonough County Child Advocacy Center Satellite Location

101 S. Johnson
Macomb, IL
(217) 357-9455
(866) 657-9455
Fax (217) 357-9456

Executive Director
Clairice Hetzler
can4kids@adams.net

CAC Coordinator
Jessica Bolton
hancockcocac@frontiernet.net

Purpose: To set up multidisciplinary interviews for child abuse case investigations and maintain contact with all involved parties through the process of the case. The Coordinator also assists in the continued development and operation of the agency.

The Children's Advocacy Center of McDonough County is part of the Hancock-McDonough CAC satellite office of Children's Action Network. The Hancock-McDonough CAC serves the communities of Hancock and McDonough counties in Illinois. Interview sites are located in each county. The McDonough county interview site is located in Macomb, IL, the county seat and is within a few blocks from the courthouse, state's attorney's office, sheriff's office and the Macomb Police Department. This facility is handicapped accessible. Interview sites in each county reduce the amount of travel needed for the child and family to meet with the Multi-disciplinary Team. All case records are maintained in the Hancock County office in Carthage, IL. A 1-800 telephone number allows victims/families and the MDT members access to the CAC staff without cost. The CAC Coordinator resides locally in the Hancock-McDonough county area and participates in local organizations and networks with other agencies in the community.

The Hancock county location serves as the office for both the Hancock and McDonough CAC. The CAC office is located in an isolated area of the First Baptist Church. There is an outside entrance at the rear of the church near the office. The office and all case records are securely locked and the office is not part of the church's master key system. Interviews are not conducted at times of church functions in order to maintain a level of privacy for the victims and families. The church allows the CAC to use the church for training and meetings as needed.

Morgan County Child Advocacy Center Satellite Location

Pike County Child Advocacy Center Satellite Location

Schuyler County Child Advocacy Center Satellite Location

United Methodist Church
210 W. Jefferson Street
Rushville, IL
(217) 322-3836
(800) 574-0209
Fax (217) 322-3945

Executive Director
Clairice Hetzler
can4kids@adams.net

CAC Coordinator
Alison Armstrong
tricocac@frontiernet.net

Purpose: To set up multidisciplinary interviews for child abuse case investigations and maintain contact with all involved parties through the process of the case. The Coordinator also assists in the continued development and operation of the agency.

The Children's Advocacy Center of Schuyler County is part of the Tri-County CAC satellite office of Children's Action Network. Tri-County serves the rural communities of Brown, Cass and Schuyler counties in Illinois. Interview sites are located in each county. The Schuyler county interview site is located in Rushville, IL, the county seat. This facility is handicapped accessible. Interview sites in each county reduce the amount of travel needed for the child and family to meet with the Multidisciplinary Team. All case records are maintained in the Tri-County office located in Rushville, IL. A 1-800 telephone number allows victims/families and the MDT members access to the CAC staff without cost. The CAC Coordinator resides locally in the Tri-County area and participates in local organizations and networks with other agencies in the community.

The Schuyler county location serves as the office for the Tri-County CAC. The CAC office is located in an isolated area of the United Methodist Church. There is an outside entrance near the office. The office and all case records are securely locked and the office is not part of the church's master key system. Interviews are not conducted at times of church functions in order to maintain a level of privacy for the victims and families. The church allows the CAC to use the church hall for training and meetings as needed.

Scott County Child Advocacy Center Satellite Location