The purpose of this training is to strengthen the capacity of the Illinois Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) by educating CAC staff and multi-disciplinary members around the impact of working in the child sexual abuse field and by promoting resilience-building on a team level. This 4-hour training is customizable to any size MDT and is approved for continuing education credits for social workers and DCFS.

CACI coordinates peer reviews across the state. Forensic Interviewers are able to discuss provided pertinent research articles, gain feedback from colleagues, and discuss how to overcome common challenges. These quarterly meetings are held in 9 different regions across the state.

CACI offers assistance for acquiring continuing education for attorneys, social workers, and DCFS employees for conferences and trainings that are sponsored by Illinois CACs.

CACI offers one on one or small group coaching for forensic interviewers to enhance and address concerns in a supportive setting that can increase the confidence of the interview and improve skills.

CACI offers one on one coaching for advocates to enhance their skill set in working with non-offending caregivers, data collection, assisting in community referrals, and using state/local resource programs. CACI can also connect advocates to shadow with other chosen advocates from across the state for training purposes.

CACI offers continued technical and education support to centers participating in Qualtrics. Trainings are available to optimize Qualtrics data to provide best possible services to children and their families.

CACI partners with DCFS and the regional medical networks to coordinate Medical Aspects of Maltreatment trainings statewide.

This conference is planned for multidisciplinary members and their specific disciplines. This conference is planned with 15+ local and nationally renowned experts in the field of child abuse with four separate tracks. This annual training is planned in the early spring in a northern Illinois located hotel.

Illinois is a ChildFirst protocol state. CACI offers the ChildFirst protocol training 1-2x a year. ChildFirst enhances the education of front-line child abuse professionals. CAC affiliated MDT members will learn the ChildFirst protocol, and how to properly conduct a non-leading fact-finding forensic interview. CACI can also connect interviewers to other state ChildFirst facilitators for alternative dates outside of Illinois.

CACI conducts less structured meetings that are designed for networking, sharing of ideas, and collaboration to overcoming challenges that might be encountered.

This fall training is an opportunity for CAC directors to receive support and training as well as share ideas. Speakers are chosen to bolster the organizational capacity of its member centers. This training is held in a Central Illinois location.

This training is designed to provide advocates with a constellation of instruction to meet the NCA Standards, as well as provide more experienced advocates a greater development of their skills as required by the NCA Standards. This fall training is held in Springfield, IL.

This training is designed to provide advanced forensic interviewers with a greater development into this specific skill set.

This training’s focus is to strengthen the skills of the MDT Coordinators and those who may fill that role at their CAC. Materials in this training will focus on strengthening facilitation and strengthening MDTs.