The Children's Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County is the leading resource to empower and heal abused children and prevent violence against children. We serve 38 communities in the Cook County area and see over 800 children and their families each year.
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Services Offered
COORDINATION, ADVOCACY AND SENSITIVE INTERVIEWING (CASI) The goal of CAC's CASI program is to reduce further trauma for child victims of abuse and hold offenders accountable to their actions. Prior to the existence of Children's Advocacy Centers, children were expected to retell their story of abuse over and over again to the very professionals that were trying to help them.
Family Support Services (FSS) When a child suffers abuse, they aren't the only one who is hurting. We offer services to families when an allegation of abuse has been investigated and the risk to the child (or children) is not enough to warrant protective placement or intact family services through the DCFS.
Crisis Intervention Immediate assistance is available for families experiencing major stressors associated with sexual abuse including risk of suicide, violence or running away. The goal is to help stabilize the situation and provide information, support and necessary referrals.
Group Intervention Group intervention can help child survivors learn healthy coping skills and normalize their experiences. Survivor support groups may provide an educational component. All groups are age appropriate.
Short Term Counseling When appropriate, CAC provides families with short term counseling options. Individual assessment of cases is done before treatment can begin. Sessions may range from a one-time visit to one hour a week for several months.
Parent Support Group A variety of emotions (grief, shame, anger) may be felt in the aftermath of child sexual abuse disclosure. Parents and non-offending caregivers are encouraged to participate in CAC's Parent Support Group to receive support from peers. A licensed social worker or licensed professional counselor helps facilitate the group and provides education as needed. Child Sexual Abuse Assessments An assessment is done when a child has NOT participated in a forensic interview or has NOT made an abuse disclosure. Assessments are conducted when there is reason to suspect (due to behavioral indicators) that sexual abuse may have occurred.
Case Management Additional services offered through case management include referrals to community resources and home visits when appropriate.
Court Advocacy If and when child abuse cases are brought to the court system, a member of CAC's clinical team will be available to assist children and families through this difficult process.
SAFE FROM THE START (SFTS) CAC, as the lead agency for a coalition of more than 25 agencies and organizations, has implemented this program that currently serves residents in the northwest suburban area of Cook County. Safe from the Start is staffed by five Masters-level therapists, all of whom have participated in the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) 40-hour training program. A wide variety of programs are offered through the SFTS including: Case management Short and long-term parent/child therapy Play therapy / art therapy Family therapy Group therapy Individual therapy Art therapy group for survivors of domestic violence Parent education groups and seminars Presentations for professionals in the field Confidential consultation for professionals
Fees and Payment
All services are offered in English and Spanish and are free of charge. This is a nonprofit organization.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens Children
Payment: Sliding Scale Medicare Medicaid
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A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.