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OFFICE OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY
LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
MICHAEL G. NERHEIM
STATE'S ATTORNEY
Lake County Children's Advocacy Center
National Children's Alliance
March 30, 2015
For Immediate Release
Contact: Lee Filas
(847) 377-3141 – office
(847) 707-6479 – cell
lfilas@lakecountyil.gov
Lake County Children's Advocacy Center achieves re-accreditation from National Children's Alliance
(Lake County, IL) The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office is announcing the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) has approved the re-accreditation application for the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center.
In the re-accreditation announcement letter, the NCA acknowledged the “extensive work the center and team has completed to demonstrate through both written documentation and observed practice that the CAC is in compliance with national accreditation standards.”
“The standards and their accompanying criteria ensure that children and families in your community receive effective, efficient, relevant and compassionate services,” the letter reads.
Carrie Flanigan, Executive Director of the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center, said accreditation guarantees the 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 the best practices to make sure children who are physically and/or sexually abused are being treated with the best model in the country.
“The National Children’s Alliance site reviewers said 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.”
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.
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
“This announcement proves the work being done by our team at the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center is making a difference,” said Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim. "The CAC has remained open and has served hundreds of children across our community throughout the pandemic. I remain incredibly proud of the work ethic and dedication of our staff, along with our law enforcement and community partners. Achieving re-accreditation during these challenging times is a testament to their commitment to service."
The LCCAC has become the second largest preforming children’s advocacy center in Illinois and has become a pilot location for other advocacy centers in the state.
The need for accreditation at the center was heightened due to the amount of funding the LCCAC brings in to help Lake County children and families.
Between 2016 and 2020, grant funding at the LCCAC has increased from $255,269 to $367,061, a 136 percent increase. In addition, the LCCAC Friends Committee raised over $250,000 toward the beautification of the facility.
Staffing at the children’s advocacy center has increased in the last three years to include a juvenile advocate, two on-site mental health providers, additional staff from the state’s attorney’s office and the Department of Children and Family Services is on site to participate in the Forensic Interview process. The building is also becoming larger due to a new medical facility and community group room, projected to be completed later this month.
For more information on the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center, visit www.friendsoflccac.org.
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Lake County State's Attorney's Office 18 N. County Street Waukegan, IL 60085 Phone: (847) 377-3000
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