Holiday Gatherings: Joyful Times, Hidden Risks and Keeping Kids Safe

By Melanie Pignotti, LCPC, CAC Chief Executive Officer

The holidays are a season of laughter, connection and family traditions. Homes fill with warmth, tables overflow with food and children run from room to room soaking up the magic. But amid the joy, there is a reality we cannot ignore; holiday gatherings can create opportunities for sexual abuse by situational offenders.

Situational sexual offenders are individuals who may not actively seek out abuse as a lifestyle or pattern but act when circumstances make it easier, moments when supervision is low, boundaries are blurred and trust is high. These offenders often appear caring and familiar, which makes their behavior harder to detect.

In fact, research shows that 93% of children who experience sexual abuse know...

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November Community Outreach

CAC Bilingual Trauma Therapist Romelia

and Lead Forensic Interviewer Wendy staffed a table at Palatine High School's outreach event last month. About 140 teens stopped by to talk with them about consent, healthy relationships and online safety and earned CAC swag and raffle tickets for participating!

Keynote and Closing Speaker: Chaz Franke, MSW, LCSW

CAC welcomes Chaz Franke, owner of Light Source LLC, as the Keynote and Closing Speaker for the 2026 Symposium. Chaz has specialized in trauma work since 2007. His approach blends psychodynamics, self-compassion and Eastern philosophy, supported by training with experts like Dr. Ira Chasnoff and Dr. Bruce Perry.

Breakout Session 1

What I Carried, What I Missed: A Personal Journey Through a Helping Career

Melanie Pignotti, LCPC

CAC CEO

Breakout Session 2

Compassion Fatigue:

When the Burden

Becomes Too Heavy

Dr. Jackie Anderson-Carter, PhD, LCSW

Inclusive Insight

Breakout Session 3

Can You Feel It? What Beyonce, Freud and

Your Nervous System

Are Trying to Tell You

Michael Rangel, LCSW

Art of Abundance

For more information or to register, go to the Eventbrite page. Prices will increase February 1, 2026.

If you're interested in sponsoring this powerful day of self-care, please contact Event Coordinator Mattie Colan at mcolan@cachelps.org.

Thank You to Generous Community Partners

On November 11, Hyatt Hotels Secret Santa Shoppers filled carloads of gifts for our clients. CAC staff Yesenia and Paula (pictured above with Hyatt's Jan Bansfield), as well as Val C. and Grace, met with shoppers to thank them and bring gifts back to CAC.

Pastor Noh Ha-young, on behalf of our neighbors at Alliance Fellowship Church Chicago, delivered beautiful fresh fruit for our staff during the Thanksgiving holiday. We are so grateful for our community partners! (Pastor Noh is pictured with Development staff.)

Amazon Wish List Shopping for CAC

While knocking out your holiday gift list, can you add a HIGH PRIORITY item from our Amazon Wish List?

Our staff recently shared that we have multiple client families without beds or bedding for their kiddos. Can you partner with us to provide an air mattress (with built-in pump), a sleeping bag and/or a throw blanket for extra warmth?

Your kindness will help kids in crisis sleep a little better at night. To shop our wish list, click the button below.

Amazon Wish List

In December we celebrate the work anniversary of:

Wendy Diaz, Lead Forensic Interviewer, 7 years

YOUR GIFT CAN CHANGE A LIFE

When you make a gift to CAC, your dollars stay in the local community to immediately help kids and families in crisis. Things like specialized interviewing for survivors of sexual abuse, ongoing support from CAC's Advocates and expert trauma therapy are all offered FREE to children and their non-offending family members. We are also thrilled that our first furry team member, Dora, is in training to work alongside her handler, Bilingual Trauma Therapist Yesenia, with our clients as a certified Therapy Dog.

New in December - CAC is partnering with FreeWill to simplify non-cash gifts. The integrated giving platform on our website makes tax-smart options like stock, IRA, DAF and crypto gifts a quick and easy option. See the infographic below or check it out on our Tax-Smart Giving page.

Make a one-time gift

Make a non-cash gift

Join the monthly giving program

Save the date for CAC's WONDER 2026! A whimsical night awaits guests at the Metropolis Ballroom in Arlington Heights. Sponsorships are available!

WONDER Ticket and Sponsorship Info

February 20	Rooted and Rising Symposium	Harper College, Palatine
May 7	WONDER	Metropolis, Arlington Hts.

cachelps.org | info@cachelps.org | 847-885-0100 | EIN 36-3711203

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Volume 47 | December 2025