HELP CAC PLANT HOPE DURING CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

From your daughter’s classmate to your son’s soccer teammate to the high school girl next door, youth throughout our communities are impacted every day by abuse or other violence. In April, during Child Abuse Prevention Month, area residents can help Children’s Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County (CAC) plant hope and help raise awareness of CAC’s free services for young survivors of abuse.

Girls like Nidia* have come to CAC’s safe, child-friendly space to give their account as a survivor of child sexual abuse. Nidia and her mom also participated in CAC’s mental health counseling, which is available to young survivors and their non-offending family members. Both experienced healing and were able to improve their mental and emotional well-being.

“Children feel heard and empowered when they come to CAC and receive a continuum of services from the forensic interview to ongoing advocacy to specialized trauma therapy,” explained CAC’s Chief Executive Officer Melanie Pignotti. “The approach is intentionally designed to reduce the risk of additional trauma and to facilitate collaboration across CAC’s staff teams. When a child leaves the Center smiling and laughing because a burden has been lifted and they remember the toys and grownups who helped and listened, we have done our jobs well,” Pignotti shared.

In addition, CAC works with the child and non-offending family members to repair and strengthen emotional bonds that can be collateral damage from the actual incident of abuse. Dads like David* have been able to process their own childhood trauma and improve communication and family relationships through CAC’s Parenting Support Program. Today David reports feeling confident and is determined to be the best parent he can be.

Across the country this April, people will be displaying pinwheels, ribbons and signs to raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month. CAC invites area residents to help CAC plant hope in their communities and display a yard sign in April. Signs can be reserved on the CAC website. CAC staff will arrange a pick-up time after the reservation is received.

*Name changed to protect client’s identity.