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September 29, 2020
Dear Community Leaders,
Hello, and welcome to another edition of "For the People." We are now into our sixth month of COVID-19 in Lake County, and I know it continues to be difficult for many. However, things seem to be trending in the right direction for the time being thanks to the vigilance of our residents, and a potential vaccine could be on the distant horizon. In the meantime, we continue to urge people to wear their face masks, wash their hands, and maintain social distancing.
I remain proud of the men and women of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office as they continue to adapt to the many challenges presented by this pandemic. This situation has created many changes in our operations and to the overall court system, yet the staff at the state’s attorney’s office continues to face the challenges head on to ensure justice is done. I can’t thank them enough for the work they have performed. I'd also like to express my appreciation to the other county departments that have risen to the challenges that COVID-19 put before them.
In this newsletter, our main stories include how the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center is working to achieve their re-accreditation through the National Children's Alliance, and a special award one of our prosecutors received from the Alliance Against Impaired Motorists. Mitch, Hitch and Browser have new cards, the Northern Illinois Regional Crime Lab issued awards to two of our attorneys, and we sponsored and participated in two virtual 5K's - one for Mother's Against Drunk Driving and the second at the 8th Annual Walk for Awareness and Suicide Prevention.
Browser and the dogs from the Lake County State's Attorney's Office have a new friend. Andrew, from Florida, recently reached out to the office via Browser's Instagram page and expressed his interest in becoming a future dog handler. In return, the office sent Andrew some swag that included a coloring and activity book and a USB drive that Browser practices with. In return, Andrew sent over a video showing how he uses his own "dog" to track down evidence, just like Browser. To see the video of Andrew practicing with his dog, please head over to Browser's Instagram page at www.instagram.com/p/CFkA95_lMfd/?igshid=16y479mt0y98x
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I was proud to take part in the "Walk Like Madd" virtual walk on Saturday, Sept. 12. The event was sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and designed to help bring awareness to impaired driving and the significant impact it has on our community. This is the most preventable crime that our office handles, yet often has the most devastating results. Many in our office walked to show support for the families who have lost loved ones to this senseless crime. In honor of the walk, the state's attorney's office staff raised more than $500 in sponsorship for MADD, and we had a team of walkers in the event. Way to go, everyone!!! |
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 I was again proud to take part in a 9/11 ceremony put on by the Waukegan fire and police departments in honor of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11. This ceremony is held annually and is one of the most touching tributes in the area to the victims who lost their lives. Thanks go out to the men and women of the Waukegan fire and police departments for such a moving tribute. In years past, this ceremony also featured local school students and members of the community, but they were unable to attend this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. We are looking forward to their return in the future.
As we continue to work together to stay safe during this pandemic, I continue to urge you to stay in contact with and continue to check on family members and neighbors. Only together will we get through this.
Yours,
Spotlight Story
 Lake County Children's Advocacy Center nearing re-accreditation through National Children's Alliance
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Children’s Advocacy Center is on the verge of becoming re-accredited through the National Children’s Alliance (NCA).
Carrie Flanigan, Executive Director of the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center, said the center “has been recommended for re-accreditation” to the NCA and that all expectations are that the final approval will be voted on at the NCA’s October board meeting.
“The National Children’s Alliance site reviewers summed up their review by saying the LCCAC staff was one of the most authentic and genuine staff they have seen,” Flanigan said. “That comment best exemplifies the spirit of the advocacy center. An interagency coordinated response to child victimization is effective when all the professionals work together provide a professional and compassionate response.”
Flanigan said accreditation guarantees that the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center is providing the most consistent and evidence-based interventions to the children being served. It also shows the advocacy center is at the forefront with best practices to make sure children who are physically and/or sexually abused are being treated with the best model in the country.
“Mike Nerheim has taken a hands-on approach to the development of the team that runs the center and the team thrives on his guidance," said LCCAC Board Member Charles May, of Libertyville.
To ensure children across the United States served by Children’s Advocacy Centers receive consistent, evidence-based, services to help them heal from abuse, the more than 700 centers across the nation are required to become accredited by meeting the National Children’s Alliance Standards for Accredited Members.
In addition, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Illinois (CACI) works closely with each chapter to ensure policy and procedure comply with the NCA requirements.
"The Lake County Children's Advocacy Center continues to grow and shine," said Kim Mangiaracino, Executive Director of Children's Advocacy Center's of Illinois. "I’ve been amazed and proud to witness this growth, both in the size and with the excellent services they provide. The leadership, staff, and MDT (multi-disciplinary team) are fully committed to serving the children and families of Lake County with the highest of standards. This is a class act organization!"
This accreditation takes place every five years, and standards are updated to reflect the latest evidence and practices for helping children, Flanigan said.
To become accredited, the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center needed to meet required standards in:
- Case review
- Multi-Disciplinary Team Representation
- Cultural Competency and Diversity
- Forensic Interviews
- Victim Support and Advocacy
- Medical Evaluation and Partnership
- Mental Health Services
- Case Tracking
- Organizational Capacity
- Child Focused Setting
The need for accreditation at the center was heightened due to the amount of funding the LCCAC brings in to help children around Lake County. Under Mike Nerheim’ s leadership, the LCCAC has grown to become the second largest preforming center in Illinois, Flanigan said.
“I want to express my gratitude to my staff for making this extremely difficult and time-consuming accreditation possible,” Nerheim said. “Their ability to rise up and complete the hard work necessary to make this happen, especially during these challenging times, is praiseworthy. Once again, they went above and beyond.”
The LCCAC provided advocacy to over 3,998 youth and family members in 2019. In addition, the LCCAC did more than 120 presentations in the community for adults and children on their services and prevention outreach. Those presentations educated over 2,800 kids and over 3,200 adults.
Between 2016 and 2021, the grant funding at the LCCAC has increased by 136 percent and the LCCAC Friends Committee raised over $250,000 toward the beautification of the facility. Over last three years, there has been a staff increase to include a juvenile advocate, two on-site mental health providers, additional staff from the state’s attorney’s office, an on-site employee from the Department Children and Family Services, and a new medical facility due to be completed in October.
For more information about the Lake County Children's Advocacy Center, please check out their website at friendsoflccac.org.
New playing cards for Mitch, Hitch and Browser
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