After recently having the opportunity to attend the virtual Symposium International Conference on Child Abuse, I took time to read an article that one presenter wrote and recommended titled: “Beyond Kale and Pedicures: Can We Beat Compassion Fatigue?” Francoise Mathieu’s article takes a deep dive into organizational and personal changes required for healthy systems and individuals. I highly recommend this inspirational read, you can access the article by clicking here, and I have shared some of my favorite quotes below: “Each of us, Lipsky argues, has a responsibility to do the same if we are to remain healthy while working in this profoundly challenging field, and also to ensure that we are not causing harm to those who turn to us for help and support.” “Our agency is really committed to building leaders at all levels, to foster leadership at all levels, to provide a world class patient experience. In order to do that, we need to have caregivers who are healthy, who are able to reflect – not just react. We want staff who respond to patients in a thoughtful way.” “If we are serious about addressing the problem of compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress among helping professionals, we need to get leaders on board, and we need to combat staff’s resistance and skepticism. “ “But the final piece of the puzzle is equally important: we need to take ownership of our own personal contribution to the climate we work in and the culture we are creating.”

SAVE THE DATES: CACI will again be partnering with Zero Abuse Project for 2 in-person trainings. The first one is our first STARK training geared toward rural prosecutors. STARK will be taught by Zero Abuse Project faculty.

The second one is our 2nd annual Crime Scene to Trial training. Crime Scene to Trial is taught by Illinois professionals and is geared toward the whole MDT. The locations of both trainings are still being determined. Registration information for STARK and team applications for Crime Scene to Trial are coming soon. 

Stopping Technology-Facilitated Abuse of Rural Kids (STARK)

August 25 – 27, 2022

This is a three-day symposium for rural prosecutors on technology-facilitated crimes against children. The first day will include the following topics:

⦁ Internet 101

⦁ Digital Forensics 101

⦁ Child Exploitation Investigations 101

⦁ Admissibility of social media and digital evidence

The second day of the symposium will include a brief experiential component in which select attendees will attempt to admit various digital evidence in the face of defense objections. The remainder of the second day, and the third day will be focused on other recommended topics from The Zero Abuse Project faculty, to include sessions on Direct Examination of the Digital Forensic Examiner, and Cross-Examination of the Digital Forensic Examiner.

Crime Scene to Trial

September 27 – 29, 2022

In this 3-day course, MDTs respond to a report of child maltreatment involving abusive head trauma, child sexual abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, witnessing domestic violence, and animal cruelty. Working as a team, students process a crime scene, interview witnesses, interrogate suspects, conduct a forensic interview, apply for search warrants, and make decisions as to charges. The course also includes workshops on topics including interrogating suspects, investigating polyvictimization, and processing a crime scene. 

This past month, I read "Amusing Ourselves to Death" by Neil Postman and can't recommend this one enough. It's a short, quick read but still packs a punch. What drew me to this book was this quote (referencing Orwell's "1984" and Huxley's "Brave New World") in the Foreword: "Orwell warns that we will be overcome by an externally imposed oppression. But in Huxley's vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity, and history. As he saw it, people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think." Wow. Prophetic.

Upcoming Due Dates:

• CESF March Fiscal Expense PFR due Thursday May 5, 2022. 

• VOCA March Fiscal Expense PFR due Monday, May 16th, 2022 (15th falls on Sunday) 

FY22 VOCA site visits are underway. We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to meet with us virtually. It is a pleasure seeing everyone and hearing about your CACs. 

Michael and I visited Vermilion County Child Advocacy Center for our first in-person site visit in over two years. I enjoyed seeing the results of all the work Brooke Ferber, Executive Director, and Jonathan Munoz, Child and Family Advocate, have put into getting their CAC up and running. Thanks to Brooke and Jonathan for allowing us to visit!

We will be having a VOCA General Training Thursday, April 21st at 2 PM. We will be going over a few reports and answering VOCA and CESF related questions.

You can register for the VOCA training HERE.

As of March 31st 2022, 8,481 forensic interviews were conducted and reported across Illinois.

This map highlights the distribution of these interviews while size and color intensity highlights the centers conducting and reporting the highest number of forensic interviews.

We are finishing out April with a BANG!!!

APRIL 18-22

CHILDFIRST SPRING ILLINOIS 2022 course is being conducted by the Zero Abuse Project. We would like to thank our presenters Rita Farrell, Victor Veith and Rachel Johnson for providing our participants with professionals knowledge and skills to enhance their skills. ChildFirst is an intensive five-day course in which students learn the necessary skills to conduct a forensic interview of an alleged child abuse victim. ChildFirst is an intensive five-day course in which students learn the necessary skills to conduct a forensic interview of an alleged child abuse victim. ChildFirst is designed for investigative teams of law enforcement officers, social workers, prosecutors, and forensic interviewers. Students receive training on the ChildFirst Forensic Interview Protocol, memory, and suggestibility, child development, testifying in court, legal issues and preparing children for court. ChildFirst is rigorous and interactive. 

QUARTERLY ADVOCATE ROUNDTABLE

4/26/2022

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.

The month of May CACI will be offering

Prepare and Predict 

May 16th

The Prepare and Predict Method allows the forensic interviewer to prepare victims for the evidence that will be presented to them in the forensic interview process, while providing them an opportunity to predict what it is they are about to see and/or discuss with the forensic interviewer. Using this method provides the victim the ability to cognitively and psychologically prepare themselves for the topic at hand. This workshop will provide participants with instruction, tools to present evidence using the Prepare and Predict Method through lecture, case examples and video clips.

Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention 

Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention course for your therapist. I am sending instructions, please if you have any questions let me know. Below you will find a word document attached with the course description. 

Virtual Training

May 17, 18, 19, 2022

9:00 A.M.-2:30 P.M.

Presented by Carrie Epstein, LCSW-R

We encourage you to save the date for all the excitemet we have stirring up in the coming months.

SAVE THE DATE 

Leadership Supervision Training

June 15, 2022- Leading Through Change 

September 14, 2022- Difficult Conversations 

Andy Zimney 

Employee Strategies, Inc. (ESINC) partners with leaders to build cultures that work. We are passionate about transforming cultures, aligning teams, and developing leaders. We use a simple process and proven methodologies to engage people and create more effective organizations and teams. ESINC helps leaders and organizations identify and implement the Systems, Behaviors, Symbols, and Rituals that best align with their ideal path forward. As an organization, we are able to help leaders assess their current state, articulate a desired future state, design solutions, and implement. Our Core Values are Responsive, Results-Oriented, and Fun! 

August 15, 2022- The Balance of Compassion and Accountability

October 17, 2022- Balancing Compassion and Accountability into your Role

Lisa Conradi

The concepts principles associated with trauma-informed care have received extensive attention over the last 10 years.  Trauma-informed practices have been designated across multiple types of service systems, including child welfare, mental health, juvenile justice, substance abuse, among others.  To date, the primary focus has been on supporting the organization and its employees to utilize a trauma-informed approach with the clientele served.  However, considering recent national and global events, a broader trauma-informed leadership approach at an organizational level is warranted.  This presentation is designed for leaders across roles who want to empower and engage the current workforce.  Drawing from the literature on effective leadership, implementation science, and trauma-informed care principles This presenter will highlight the principles of trauma-informed care and provide strategies to integrate these principles into their leadership practices.  This presentation is designed for leaders at all levels.  

Interviewing Beyond Sexual Abuse 

June 15-16

This two-day training aims to enhance previously acquired forensic interviewing skills by addressing challenges related to reluctance and the variety of ways in which youth who have experienced or witnessed maltreatment present. By covering topics of chronic, physical and psychological abuse, witness to violence and technology-facilitated crimes, trainers will provide participants with information, tools and resources for which to approach these cases. 

This training is for those interviewers with intermediate set of skills.