New to the 2023 Standards, Component 2E requires CAC staff to participate in DEI training, a minimum of 8 hours, every 2 years. CACI is proud in offer, in part by funding from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. Please save the following dates:

• Racial Trauma, April 20 10-12 meets component 2E
• Racial Trauma Racial Trauma Follow Up, May 2, 2-3:30 meets component 2E
• DEI for Leaders, May 16, 10-12 meets component 2E
• DEI for Leaders Follow Up June 8, 10-11:30 meets component 2E
• 2 Part Wellness Series, Pt 1 June 20th 1-3 and Part 2 June 22 1-3 meets component 9H

By reviewing key aspects of the forensic interview including child development, language and memory development, the impact of trauma and the practical applications of approaches to enhancing rapport with youth, this training will strengthen skills of interviewers at the beginner and intermediate levels. Research supports that narrative practice increases a child’s narrative competence as well as the details provided in the substantive portion of the interview (Roberts, Brubacher, Powell, & Price, 2011). Attendees will build upon prior knowledge and experience, and enrich their techniques in engagement, gathering of details and fluidity of their forensic interviews.

Through NCA Project Funds, CACI is able to provide Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children Screening Forms, and Trauma Symptom Checklist of Young Children Screening Forms to CACs to use at the time of the forensic interview as a tool for triaging children into mental health services. These are commonly referred to as TSCC-SF and TSCYC-SF. Participants will learn more about these instruments which are multi-dimensional, reliable, valid, normed, evidence based and  to be administered by non-mental health staff to triage children for therapy as well as an engagement tool for non-offending caregivers. 

As outlined in CACIs National Children’s Alliance Grant for statewide projects, all CACs in IL are eligible for free TSCC-SF and TSCYC-SF for their centers. These can be requested by this link: https://caci.coalitionmanager.org/formmanager/customform/preview/22 

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a conversation approach to help individuals change behaviors and increase intrinsic motivation to reach their goals. It seeks to help people decide to make behavior changes or improve their commitment to change. It can focus on almost any aspect of life where choice is needed, for example deciding to address anger issues, trauma, adverse childhood experiences, make education or career decisions, attend parenting classes or sessions, complying with court orders, changing negative behaviors (bullying, fighting, abusing), making lifestyle changes (health, substance use) based on heart set/mindset.

The three hour workshops will take place once a month for 3 consecutive months and in between the 3 sessions there will be the opportunity to participate in a shorter Practice Coaching sessions.

Learning Targets for workshops:

●  Develop and strengthen the core skills and conversational processes for using MI to support intrinsic motivation to make decisions or change by helping parents and children formulate their own thoughts and plans in reaching a goal.

●  Be engaged in active learning through experiential activities, videos and demonstrations, and facilitated practice as a multimodal way to learn this strength-based approach.

●  Learn strategies to help guide a person’s thought process and avoiding traps that create discord.

●  Learn ways to work toward proficiency in this approach.

Please join us for our Quarterly Advocate Round Table! Join us in networking, discussion, and fun! CACI will facilitate advocate round table discussion. This is an opportunity for advocates to network, assist one another with overcoming challenges, and share ideas. Advocates are encouraged to come with a question that they would like feedback from their peers and more information from others across the state.

• February 21, 2023 - Register Here
• May 23, 2023 - Register Here
• August 22, 2023 - Register Here
• November 21, 2023 - Register Here