myQIportal | Continuous Quality Improvement Projects for Child Abuse

The Midwest Regional Medical Academy has worked in collaboration with the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and Children's Minnesota to provide three quality improvement projects to medical professionals. The goal of each quality improvement project is to assess and improve diagnostic accuracy and photodocumentation skills in child abuse cases

Mike Burns

Statewide MDT Coordinator

On 10/14/21, I sent out a MDT Training Application to Directors for the Crime Scene to Trial training to be held in-person December 14-16, 2021 in Springfield. Directors, if you have a team that you believe would be available to attend all 3 days and would benefit from this training, please make sure you complete the application and submit it to me. The training is limited to 4 MDTs. 

September 22 & 23, 2021 "How to Best Support Kids at Trial" training. 

This training is offered for attorneys, forensic interviewers and therapists who might be testifying on CAC cases, as well as anyone needing a more in depth training or refresher on understanding the court process and preparing for and presenting evidence. Attendees gained information about pre-trial motions, expert and fact witness testimony and preparing children to participate in the court process. In addition, participants learned to work together to effectively present and defend the forensic interview in court. Participants also had the chance to observe and participate in role play scenarios. 

CACI would like to thank our presenters Joan Pernecke and Lynn Aladeen for such an informative and wonderful training experience.

👧🏽 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 Fall had 30 participants. We would like to thank the following faculty members for helping us make this training AMAZING!

Adam W. Ghrist, J.D.

Federal Litigation Criminal Defense and Civil Litigation Attorney, Finegan Rinker & Ghrist

Betti Mucha

Executive Director, Perry-Jackson Child Advocacy Center

Dr. Channing Petrak

Board Certified Child Abuse Pediatrician and Medical Director of the Pediatric Resource Center

Jacqueline Lundquist

Senior Forensic Interviewer, Will County Children’s Advocacy Center

Alison Elsea

Senior Forensic Interviewer, Child 1st Center

Melanie Pignotti

Program Supervisor/Forensic Interviewer, CAC of North and Northwest Cook County

From the McLean Co CAC Facebook post on 10/06/21:

What seemed like a dream just six months ago is a reality today as we open our doors to serve the children of Livingston County at our new center. While today is an exciting day for the CAC, it’s also a very special day for the CAC Team. For the last two months this team has spent countless hours designing every detail of each room in this building. They’ve painted every wall (some twice), put together the new furniture and refurbished the old, cleaned floors, pulled weeds, hung shutters, sound paneling and so much more. You name it… they did it! All of it! Their creativity, determination, and ability to work as a team has just been incredible. To say that they’ve put their hearts into this new space would be an understatement. To the CAC Team, thank you for your hard work! Make it a point to enjoy this special day! 

Ticket sales end THIS Friday, October 29th for the 6th Annual Harvest Moon Ball! Get yours today!! 🤩💛 Tickets are $50 and must be pre-purchased.

Please find payment information below:



✨ PayPal: PayPal.Me/pjcac 

✨ Check or Cash: Call us at 618-942-3800 (Franklin- Williamson Child Advocacy Center) or 618-357-2990 (Perry-Jackson Child Advocacy Center).

Join the Bourbonnais Township Park District in creating a Thanksgiving tradition! The 9th Annual Turkey Trot has the options for a 10K run (6.2 miles), a 5K run (3.1 miles), and a 2 mile walk that all go through our trails of Perry Farm Park. This unique race is accessible to all skill and interest levels. You don't have to be fast to win a prize in this competition! 10k and 5k runners will predict how fast they will run and if you are the closest to your predicted time you win a turkey!

*Deadline to be guaranteed a race shirt is 10/10/2021 at midnight. Registrations submitted on or after 10/11/21 will only receive a shirt based on availability.*

For more information please email Kourtnee Thompson at KourtneeT@btpd.org

All proceeds benefit the Child Network.