Village of Northbrook Partners with the Children’s Advocacy Center for “Healing Hearts” Campaign

(Northbrook, IL) – The Village of Northbrook has partnered with the Children’s Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County (CAC) to help support child abuse survivors through the CAC’s “Healing Hearts” campaign, presented by WT Group. As part of this initiative, the Village will showcase a five-foot heart sculpture hand-painted by local artist Heather Killian, sponsored by the Northbrook Arts Commission, outside the Northbrook Police Station. A dedication to the sculpture is taking place Wednesday, May 26, at 1pm at the corner of Landwehr Road and Walters Avenue in front of the Police Station (1401 Landwehr Road, Northbrook).

The Northbrook Police Department and Village of Northbrook provide an annual contribution to CAC for their work and support with cases of child abuse in Northbrook. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which lead to the cancellation of CAC’s traditional fundraising event and an increased need in services, the Village and Police Department offered additional support by becoming a $5,000 Heal Sponsor of the Healing Hearts campaign. To date, the campaign has raised $108,000 of the $150,000 goal. Donations can be made at www.HealingHearts.givesmart.com.

“The CAC has and will continue to be a valuable resource to Northbrook as we work to help protect our children,” said Village President Kathryn Ciesla. “Placing our beautiful Healing Heart outside of the police department honors both Northbrook’s commitment to our children and our police officers who work tirelessly to keep all of us safe.”

Why Healing Hearts? The campaign’s goal is to start the important conversation about how to support child abuse survivors and prevent child abuse in our community. The hearts serve as physical representations of the healing work done at CAC for children and families who have been victims of abuse. Northbrook is one of 38 communities that were asked to sponsor a Healing Heart and is honored to be the first community to display this one-of-a-kind sculpture.

CAC is the leading resource to empower and heal children who have been sexually and physically abused and prevent abuse against children in the future. Headquartered in Hoffman Estates, IL, CAC has been in operation since 1989 and has served over 12,000 children and families: currently averaging around 1,100 clients per year. CAC offers forensic interviewing, family advocacy, and a range of therapy services for children and families who have suffered abuse in 38 communities in the north and northwest suburbs of Chicago.