About Us

Front Entrance

Our Facility

The Peoria County Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) provides a home-like environment where child victims can disclose abuse to law enforcement and child protective services in privacy and safety and can receive services in one location. The CAC opened its doors in October 1998 at the State's Attorney's Office while a new location was prepared.

In May 2000, the CAC moved into the newly remodeled Peoria County facility which was formerly the juvenile detention center. The CAC is located in the heart of the East Bluff of Peoria which is convenient and accessible to our clients and multi-disciplinary team members. Our building is handicapped accessible and has private parking, a child-friendly waiting room, offices for staff and MDT members, a conference room, an interview room and an observation room.

Our Services

Multi-Disciplinary Team Investigation

The team is a group of inter-agency professionals to ensure a prompt response to allegations of abuse. This team approach limits the number of times that a child must disclose, reducing the trauma to the child. CAC cases are reviewed by the team to provide quality, efficient services to the children and families.

Forensic Interviews

All interviews are conducted by a specially trained interviewer in a room designed to assure the child’s comfort. The detailed, sensitive, non-leading, legally sound interview is recorded to avoid duplicate disclosures.

Advocacy

A Case Manager provides continuous support to the children and families throughout the investigation and prosecution process. They assist with victim rights information, the justice system, orders of protection, and serve as a liaison to families during the court process. The Case Manager also makes prompt medical, mental health, and community service referrals and provides ongoing follow up support and education.

Our Goals

  • Conduct investigations in a victim-sensitive manner
  • Utilize a coordinated multi-disciplinary team among agencies for each case
  • Minimize the stress and limit the number of interviews for victims of child abuse
  • Support the victim and non-offending family members by offering coordinated medical, legal, and community advocacy services
  • Ensure the safety of the victim by holding the offender responsible for their actions