CACI TO HOLD A FUNDRAISER DURING THE 11TH ANNUAL CHAMPIONS OF CHILDREN CONFERENCE! "I've got Friends In Low Places that would enjoy this", Sweet Caroline told the Piano Man. "Well show them some R.E.S.P.E.C.T and bring them down to the Lakeside Pavilion where a duo that could pass for Benny and the Jets are on stage". OPEN TO EVERYONE (not just conference attendees). Bring your best friend, your co-workers, brother/sister, spouse, your in-laws....or just come by yourself! Tip to hear your favorite song or better yet, tip NOT to hear your teammates song played, or even better than that, tip to have your favorite team member take the mic and serenade you! 100% of the tip jar proceeds will come back to CACI. You can request any song from Tone Loc to Carly Rae Jepson, from Achy Breaky Heart to Old Towne Road! There will be a full cash bar with a 400 Park Bistro menu available for a la carte ordering as well. Tickets are ONLY available online DOORS AT OPEN: 5:30pm DJ MUSIC: 5:30-7:00pm DUELING PIANOS: 7:00-9:00pm Tue, Mar 3, 2020 5:30 PM CST Dueling Pianos - Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois CofC20 The Westin Chicago Northwest, Itasca Tickets

Michael Morgan Joins CACI as the VOCA Grant Program Monitor Michael was born and raised in St. Louis, Mo. He is a lover of most sports, but is favorites are football, basketball and baseball. He is a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan and thinks you should be too! Michael comes to CACI from The Little Bit Foundation, a youth educational nonprofit in St. Louis. He has a BS in Mass Communications: Public Relations from Southeast Missouri State University and an MBA from Lindenwood University. He is extremely passionate about serving the community and helping others in their time of need. He is really excited to join the CACI Team and looking forward to assisting the Children’s Advocacy Centers across Illinois!

CACI will be partnering with Zac's Zoo to to provide children visiting CACs with a brand new stuffed animal. Zac Cohen was a native of Highland Park. In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina destroyed many New Orleans homes, at the tender age of 7, Zac wanted to help the smallest victims...the children. From his desire to help, Zac’s Zoo was formed, along with a cuddle-comfort criteria of which Zac insisted each stuffed animal must possess. Through Zac’s efforts over 10,000 stuffed animals were collected and donated to the children impacted by Katrina. Sadly, Zac was killed in a tragic motorcycle accident, on September 7th, 2018. He was only 20 years old. He lived his life serving others, taking great pleasure in helping the less fortunate. It’s in his spirit that Zac’s Zoo hopes to help restore a sense of calmness, security, and comfort to children facing adversity. To learn more or donate, please visit their website: https://www.zacszoo.com/

CHRISTOPHER TENNYSON IS THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE CACI BOARD OF DIRECTORS Christopher Tennyson,  is a former Juvenile Detective and School Resource Officer. Since switching over from Law Enforcement to the education field, Christopher has taught High School, served as a High School Assistant Principal, High School Principal and currently serves as the Assistant Regional Superintendent of Schools for Lee, Ogle and Whiteside Counties. Christopher is a certified ALiCE Instructor, trainer for developing behavioral threat assessment teams and was featured in the New York Times for safely handling a near crisis situation at Fulton High School in 2018.

NATALIE PHELPS FINNIE BRINGS HER LEGISLATIVE EXPERTISE TO CACI Natalie Phelps Finnie has graciously offered to assist CACI with Legislative Advocacy matters, pro bono. Natalie comes highly recommended by CACI Board Member Jo Poshard.   Natalie is a former state representative from the southern region. Born and raised in Southern Illinois; small business owner; family nurse practitioner at Gallatin County Wellness Center; active member of Star Church in Eldorado; sings gospel music with her sisters in "The Phelps Sisters" trio; lives on a cattle ranch in Elizabethtown with her husband and three children.

UIS-developed Child Protection Training Academy to be... The Child Protection Training Academy (CPTA) first developed at the University of Illinois Springfield, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), will be replicated through a new partnership with the... Read more news.uis.edu

Spring 2020 Workshop Series Learn to use the Foundation Directory Online from the Foundation Center to effectively locate Private Foundation Funding. This workshop will provide ample time to explore the database following the demonstration. So please feel free to schedule... Read more emails.uofi.uis.edu

February 20, 2020  In conjunction with the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, CACI, and an awesome group of Illinois CAC Directors, came together at the State Capitol to share with their Senators and Representatives about the work they do with survivors of family and sexual violence and how you can help make our Illinois communities safer.

LEGISLATIVE DAY 2020

Each April, in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, CACI and CAC staff from around Illinois gather in Springfield at our State Capitol. With our hands and minds full of informational materials, funding needs/issues, current and/or proposed bills and laws, questions, concerns and/or ideas, we are appreciative of this opportunity to discuss them all with our Representatives and Senators! Children's Advocacy Center Directors, Staff/MDT, Board Members, and members and community members are invited to join CACI for a Legislative Day on Wednesday, April 22nd in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month! We encourage attendees to take this opportunity to visit their representatives and discuss the importance of CACs in the state of Illinois.

Wed, Apr 22, 2020 9:00 AM CST Legislative Day 2020 Illinois State Capitol, Springfield Tickets

UPCOMING CACI EVENTS & TRAININGS

Hello All, 2020’s training calendar is already in full swing, and I am looking forward to a great year ahead. This month, the Narrative Practice Training held in Itasca, IL was yet again a success. More details from this training can be found in this edition of the CACInsider, but first I want to remind you of upcoming registration deadlines, a new date to add to your calendar, and an important note about the upcoming TF-CBT training.   Save the Date:  Advanced TF-CBT (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) will be held November 19-20, 2020 in Bloomington, IL. Important Upcoming Training Registration Deadlines to Remember: ChildFirst April 6-10, 2020 Registration Deadline is March 13, 2020 Advocate Round Table (4 separate locations) Registration Deadline is April 1, 2020   A note about 2020 TF-CBT registration: In previous years, the 2-day TF-CBT training was only open for therapists who were able to participate in the 12 hours of follow-up consultation phone calls, and to those who were actively providing direct therapy to parents and children. This year, CACI is happy to open this registration to supervisors of TF-CBT trained therapists (who may not qualify for certification), in addition to those seeking traditional TF-CBT certification. The TF-CBT training will be held on May 7-8, 2020 in Bloomington, IL. Supervisors attending this 2-day training would be awarded an observer certificate, and would qualify for CEU hours for the 2-day training. Registration for this training for those seeking certification, and for supervisors wanting to attend as an observer can be found below. Please pass this information on to your therapists’ supervisors for this unique opportunity. As always, we encourage you to share all CACI training opportunities with everyone on your team. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Cara

CACI 2020 Training Calendar Is Now Available Here

2020 NARRATIVE PRACTICE TRAINING

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 of the February 12-13, 2020 Narrative Practice built upon prior knowledge and experience, and enriched their techniques in engagement, gathering of details and fluidity of their forensic interviews. A special CACI thank you for trainers Lynn Aladeen and Ali Alstott for all their hard work preparing for this 2-day training. This year’s participants provided the following feedback at the conclusion of the training: "The presenters were engaging and relatable." "This training provided helpful case examples." "I appreciated the great amount of detail when answering questions." "I truly enjoyed the entire training."

ChildFirst is an intensive 5 day course where students learn the necessary skills to conduct a forensic interview of an alleged child abuse victim.

Mon, Apr 6, 2020 8:00 AM CST ChildFirst Spring 2020 Hyatt Place Champaign/Urbana, Champaign Tickets

This year's Advocate Round Tables will focus on timely topics, overcoming challenges, and celebrating successes. This informal gathering of advocates will give advocates a chance to network and gain ideas from their peers. There are 4 locations: Springfield, Herrin, Chicago & Rock Island Advocates are welcomed to attend any round table regardless of their geographic location. The same format for discussion will be presented at every meeting.

Tue, Apr 14, 2020 11:00 AM CST 2020 Advocate Round Table - Springfield Sangamon County Children's Advocacy Center, Springfield Tickets Mon, Apr 20, 2020 11:00 AM CST 2020 Advocate Round Table - Chicago Chicago Children's Advocacy, Chicago Tickets

Wed, Apr 15, 2020 11:00 AM CST 2020 Advocate Round Table - Herrin Franklin-Williamson Child Advocacy Center, Herrin Tickets Tue, Apr 21, 2020 11:00 AM CST 2020 Advocate Round Table - Rock Island Rock Island County Children's Advocacy Center, Rock Island Tickets

Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Training trains professionals on the evidence-based psychotherapy approach designed to treat traumatic stress in children and adolescents. Participants learn how to administer a trauma-specific assessment, how to implement TF-CBT to special populations, and how to engage centers. Participants also learn how to engage the non-offending caregiver in the healing process.

Thu, May 7, 2020 8:00 AM CST Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Training Holiday Inn by IHG Bloomington Normal, Normal Tickets

This training is for previously trained forensic interviewers to learn how to specifically explore issues beyond sexual abuse. This training will focus on the importance of interviewing children about a multitude of issues including physical abuse, witness to violent crime, and psychological abuse.

Tue, May 12, 2020 8:00 AM CST Interviewing Beyond Sexual Abuse Drury Inn & Suites, O'Fallon Tickets

These less structured meetings are designed for MDT facilitators to network, develop new facilitation tactics, and share ideas to assist their MDTs in identifying and addressing challenges that impact case outcomes. There are 3 meeting locations: Pinckneyville, Dixon & Charleston

Fri, May 8, 2020 11:00 AM CST Southern Region MDT Coordinator Round Table Pinckneyville Community Hospital, Pinkneyville Tickets

Fri, May 15, 2020 11:00 AM CST Northern Region MDT Coordinator Round Table KSB Hospital, Dixon Tickets

Mon, May 18, 2020 11:00 AM CST Central Region MDT Coordinator Round Table Children's Advocacy Centers of East Central Illinois, Charleston Tickets

MEN WHO COOK 2020 Food event by Will County Children's Advocacy Center and 2 others on Saturday, September 19 2020 with 196 people interested and 47 people going. Read more www.facebook.com

Swishin' for a Mission 2020 Fundraising Dinner and Auction Causes event in Quincy, IL by Advocacy Network for Children on Friday, March 6 2020 Read more www.facebook.com

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