To report suspected child abuse, contact one of the following agencies:
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, 1-800-25ABUSE (1-800-252-2873)
Local law enforcement agency (Police Department in city where abuse is suspected to have occurred)
Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center, 847.377.3155.
The Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center is committed to providing a safe environment for child victims of abuse. The goal of The Center is to investigate and help successfully prosecute offenders of child abuse without causing further trauma to the child victim. Furthermore, the Advocacy Center is dedicated to approaching victims of child abuse in a sensitive, respectful manner. Child Victim is defined as anyone from birth to eighteen years of age. The Center will provide services to individuals beyond age eighteen when special circumstances (i.e. developmental disability) require such.
Current research regarding child sexual abuse reveals the following:
1 in every 3 girls and 1 in every 5 boys will become a victim of sexual assault before age 18
More than 3 children die each day in the U.S. as the result of abuse or neglect
An estimated 80% of all instances of child abuse remain unreported
90% of abused children are abused by someone they know and trust
Child abuse occurs among all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds
Children are often threatened or intimidated into keeping abuse a secret
Months or years may pass before a child discloses that they have been abused
The staff of the Children’s Advocacy Center work diligently to provide the following services to child victims, their non-offending family members and the community at large:
Investigations of child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse allegations
Court advocacy and crisis intervention
Referrals to area agencies and/or private therapists for on-going counseling needs
Assistance to local police departments
Coordination of specialized medical examinations
A Speaker’s Bureau, offering presentations and training to interested agencies, civic groups, etc.
The Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center was created as the result of a child sexual abuse task force held in 1985. Initiated by the State’s Attorney of Lake County, the task force addressed the rapid rise in child abuse reports. The findings of the task force mandated a new, multi-disciplinary approach for responding to reports of child abuse.
The Center opened in 1987. Its operation is a cooperative effort between the Illinois Department of Children Family Services, local law enforcement and the Office of the State’s Attorney.
Additionally, the Center collaborates with area law enforcement agencies. The Center’s executive director, investigators, social worker(s), and support staff carry out the mission of the Children’s Advocacy Center.
