SHINING STAR CHILDRENS ADVOCACY CENTER

The vision of Shining Star CAC is to reduce the trauma of child sexual and serious physical abuse through early identification of child victims, holding offenders accountable, providing victims and families with competent advocacy and counseling services, and community education. Shining Star CAC provides a coordinated multi-agency approach to child abuse investigations by bringing together specially trained collaborative team members from the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), law enforcement agencies, prosecution offices, and medical and mental health fields. The Shining Star CAC program reduces the number of times children are subjected to interviews in an effort to minimize emotional trauma to children and their families. Further, this team approach facilitates victim recovery and can strengthen the chance for successful criminal prosecution through improved investigations. Shining Star CAC was established in 2002 and is funded by federal and state grants, local United Ways, fundraising, and private donations.