Our Approach
We offer a unique set of services for children impacted by challenging circumstances.
Our behavioral health staff includes psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed clinical professional counselors, postdoctoral psychology fellows, family advocates and a case manager. We provide integrated services to children and their family through collaboration between our clinicians and medical teams.
We provide care to children through three main programs: The Chicago Child Trauma Center (CCTC), La Rabida Children’s Advocacy Center (LRCAC) and Integrated Assessment.
Chicago Child Trauma Center (CCTC)
- The Chicago Child Trauma Center (CCTC) serves Chicago-area children ages one to 18 exposed to traumatic events including physical and sexual abuse, witnessing violence and complex trauma. The center’s mission is to provide expert-level trauma care to children and their families and address social justice issues. Staffed by psychologists, social workers, counselors and case managers, clinicians at the CCTC have specialized training and expertise in trauma assessment and treatment models. The CCTC provides care to traumatized children through case management, advocacy and collaboration with outside providers.
La Rabida Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC)
The mission of La Rabida Children’s Advocacy Center (LRCAC) is to reduce trauma for a child’s well-being by providing support services to child victims and their families. The LRCAC provides services, such as forensic interviews and advocacy to child victims of sexual and physical abuse, and witnesses of crime in the investigation process.
- Coordination: LRCAC coordinates and schedules the forensic interview with the family and law enforcement, DCFS investigators and the State’s Attorney’s Office.
- Forensic Interviews: Forensic interviews are conducted in a child-friendly environment and are designed as a structured conversation where open-ended, non-leading questions are asked. All forensic interviewers are master’s level and/or licensed clinical social workers who are specially trained in child development, memory, suggestibility and trauma. Forensic interviews are audio and video recorded per the Cook County Protocol to reduce the number of times the child must tell their story.
- Advocacy: Each family is assigned a family advocate who acts as a liaison between the family and the various team members. The family advocate provides support services, such as follow-up services, referrals, crisis intervention, court advocacy, medical advocacy and assists in connecting children and families to therapeutic services.
Contact Us
If you are seeking services for a child who has been exposed to trauma and is in need of therapeutic services, contact our intake coordinator at 773-374-3748 x2221 to determine if these services would be a good fit.
