About CACI

The Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois (CACI) is dedicated to the development and growth of Illinois' Children's Advocacy Centers. CACI accomplishes this by offering its members a cadre of services which are rooted in the not-for-profit organization's driving principles: leadership, education and collaboration.

Established in 1995, CACI is the network that coordinates and provides a comprehensive response to child abuse in Illinois. As the leading resource on child abuse issues, CACI stays abreast of the latest research and literature in the child abuse field, as well as the most child-friendly approaches in investigation and treatment of child abuse.

CACI is dedicated to the multidisciplinary, child advocacy approach and a coordinated, comprehensive response to child abuse. To that end, CACI offers discipline-specific trainings to its members throughout the year; CACI seeks opportunities to collaborate with partner agencies, such as the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Illinois Attorney General's Office, on education and public policy issues; and CACI guides its members on "best practices" in the field.

CACI also serves as the pass-through funding entity for both the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds, distributing these resources to all 41 Children’s Advocacy Centers across Illinois. This role ensures that CACs statewide receive the financial support needed to provide critical services to child victims and their families.

CACI is an accredited chapter of the National Children's Alliance. Accreditation standards include:

• Organizational Capacity: CACI implements sound administrative practices in both programming and fiscal operations.
• Membership: CACI works with its members to collect and provide vital statistical information. CACI provides services that support and encourage its members to meet and exceed the 10 standards required for their national accreditation.
• Training and Technical Assistance: CACI provides training and program support to developing and existing Children's Advocacy Centers throughout Illinois.
• Legislative Advocacy: CACI works collaboratively with its membership and partner agencies to advocate for and oppose new laws that will support and protect child victims of abuse and their families.

The Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois (CACI) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity. If you believe you have been discriminated against, you may contact: U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Civil Rights