Questions About Abuse
How are cases referred to the Center?
All cases are referred to the CCAC either through the Chicago Police (911 emergency calls) or the Illinois Department of CHildren and Family Services Child Abuse Hotline (800-25 ABUSE).
I know a child who may have been sexually abused. What should I do?
In Illinois, you should immediately call 9-1-1 or 800-25-ABUSE. If you are calling from outside Illinois and want to report a child who is being abused in Illinois you should call 217-524-2606.
How many children does the CCAC see each year?
The CCAC interviews nearly 3,000 children each year. Many children and their families will receive social services, such as mental health and counseling, referrals to food pantries or medical care, or domestic violence intervention.
What are the consequences of sexual abuse for children?
The impact of sexual abuse on children can be severe. Emotionally, children may experience withdrawal, post-traumatic stress disorder, and poor school performance, in addition to feelings of shame, distrust, and guilt. Adults who were sexually abused as children can be at greater risk for suicide, criminality, educational problems, and substance abuse. Physically, children are at risk of sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea, syphilis, or HIV. In addition, older girls are at risk of unwanted pregnancy.
How can one tell if a child has been sexually abused?
The CCAC performs a “forensic interview” for each child. Trained social workers ask the child open-ended, non-leading questions while other investigators watch from behind a one-way mirror. If needed, a pediatrician can give a child a medical exam on-site, using a colposcope, a magnifying device that can detect tears or scars that are not otherwise visible. Although a medical examination is very important for sexual abuse victims, most children do not show medical evidence of abuse; this does not mean it did not happen.
There is no one behavioral change that is a positive indicator of sexual abuse; they are very difficult to detect. Some children exhibit marked changes in behavior because of sexual abuse. They can become suddenly morose, withdrawn, or non-communicative. On the other hand, other children may not display any changes in behavior, and the abuse may be detected only because they disclose the abuse to a caring adult.
