Child Abuse Prevention & Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Thursday, April 9   |   12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Virtual

Join us in celebrating Earth Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month by engaging in conversation on the power of nature to reconnect with the sense of self. A core struggle of surviving abuse and gender-based violence is finding our way back to ourselves – to a place of safety, trust, and belonging. Join Jeanine Otte and Jess Rodriguez for a discussion on how to build on existing nature-based practices as well as explore additional ways to incorporate reconnection with nature into our collective work to end abuse and gender-based violence.

This training is CEU-eligible, please enquire for more information.

Jeanine Otte is an innovative community leader who brings over 20 years of experience designing and implementing programs and policies that benefit people and the planet at the intersection of the environment, equity, health, and wealth. Jeanine’s life mission is to reconnect Self, Nature, and Community for shared healing and prosperity. She has advanced training in ecopsychology, identifies as a survivor child sexual abuse and religious trauma, and sits on the Community Advisory Council of Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center. Jeanine has worked at the nonprofit Elevate for 16 years, seeking to create a world in which everyone has clean and affordable heat, power, and water in their homes and communities. Jeanine is also a poet.

Jessica Rodriguez is a Chicago-based forest bathing guide certified through the Association of Nature and Forest Bathing. Jessica was introduced to forest bathing in 2019 while interning in Costa Rica with a certified guide. Together, they worked on a proposal to have forest bathing recognized as an official nature wellness practice by the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT). Through this practice and business, Jessica is dedicated to opening the doors to holistic wellness by offering opportunities for others to practice presence with themselves, their community, and their environment. Jessica is currently the Coalition Building Manager at the Brushwood Center, where they are focused on integrating nature-based solutions into the health care system through their project known as TIERRA.

Thursday, April 9   |   4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
McKinley Park Library, 1915 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60609

Join Carolina Morales, to hear the story “Maya’s Magic Word” by Ashley-Lauren Elrod. Families will learn about body safety, feelings, consent, safe and unsafe touch, and respectful relationships. Hosted by ChicagoCAC and Chicago Public Library.

No RSVP required.

Thursday, April 9, 2026   |   6:30 PM – 8:30 PM East Garfield Park  (RSVP for address)

Please join us for a conversation with Reshona Landfair, the author of Who’s Watching Shorty? Reclaiming Myself from the Shame of R. Kelly’s Abuse for a conversation about her new book and her story of survival. Anika Sterling-Florez and Saunté Harden-Tate of CAASE will lead a discussion and Q&A with the author. We strongly encourage guests to purchase the book before the event to bring to the book signing. A very limited number will be available for purchase at the event. Learn more about Reshona Landfair and her book here. Hosted by the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE) and ChicagoCAC.

Join ChicagoCAC and organizations nationwide by wearing blue to show your support for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Share your photos on social media using the hashtag #GoBlueIllinois to help raise awareness and support prevention efforts.

Wednesday, April 15   |   10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Virtual

Join Oluwadamilola Alabi from the AHA Foundation for a comprehensive overview of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) with a focus on prevention, early identification, and coordinated response within the Chicago context. Participants will explore the historical and cultural context of FGM/C, understand the different types of the practice, and review where FGM/C is prevalent globally, nationally, and locally. The session will highlight U.S. federal and Illinois state laws, including mandated reporting requirements, and present current prevalence estimates to underscore the relevance of FGM/C in Chicago communities.

The webinar will also examine the immediate and long-term health consequences of FGM/C and provide practical, field-based guidance on identifying risk factors and supporting affected individuals. Emphasis will be placed on trauma-informed, culturally responsive approaches and strengthening referral pathways across systems to ensure coordinated, survivor-centered care.

Hosted by the AHA Foundation and ChicagoCAC.

Oluwadamilola Alabi is a public health professional with a master’s degree in public health, specializing in health promotion, and a certification in project management. She currently serves as Project Coordinator for the END FGM/C Program at the AHA Foundation, a federally funded initiative based on Chicago’s North Side. In this role, she leads efforts to equip schools with the tools and knowledge needed to protect students at risk of female genital mutilation and cutting. Her work centers on delivering age-appropriate educational materials, facilitating staff awareness training, and advising school teams on risk identification and response protocols. She partners closely with educators and student protection professionals to strengthen school policies, sharpen early intervention strategies, and ensure that affected students receive timely and appropriate support.

Tuesday, April 21   |   10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Virtual

One of the biggest challenges of child sexual abuse prevention is empowering others to take action – not just about clear cases of abuse, but when we see concerning or inappropriate behavior. These “yellow light behaviors” can be seen as “opportunities for prevention”, but too often people hesitate to raise their concerns, particularly when the behavior comes from someone they trust and respect. Perhaps they’re unsure of how to begin.

In this webinar, ChicagoCAC Prevention Educator Liz Baudler and Community Advisory Council Member Cynthia E. Hanifin, MSW, will discuss what makes us reluctant to speak up when we see potential harm, how to think through our approach to difficult conversations, and how to appropriately check in with ourselves throughout the process of addressing the issue. We’ll learn more about the motivations behind people’s behavior and the long-term benefits of speaking up, and we’ll practice summoning the words that name what you’re seeing as you take action to keep youth safe. This presentation will not only benefit professionals, but anyone who wants to advocate for children in their daily lives. Hosted by ChicagoCAC.

CEUs available for qualified professionals for a small fee. ICVDPs are available for qualified professionals for a small fee through the generous assistance of Connections for Abused Women and Children.

Thursday, April 23 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Lozano Library, 1805 S. Loomis St, Chicago, IL 60608

Join Carolina Morales, to hear the story “Maya’s Magic Word” by Ashley-Lauren Elrod. Families will learn about body safety, feelings, consent, safe and unsafe touch, and respectful relationships. Hosted by ChicagoCAC and Chicago Public Library.

No RSVP required.

Friday, April 24   |   11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Virtual

The practice of therapy and other related disciplines with children and families impacted by abuse and multiple other forms of trauma, leaves practitioners vulnerable to negative symptoms associated with vicarious trauma. These symptoms may be exacerbated by toxic, negative, and dangerous social and political climates. In this workshop, we will pull from spiritual and philosophical practices that may help us to shape our attitudes, emotional tone, and worldview in ways that can support resilience in our work and other environments. We will focus particularly on how to foster the constructs of purpose, presence, and compassion in order to build resilience and hope during difficult times. Participants will be introduced to several social and psychological models that offer activities we can practice to enhance our resilience. Hosted by ChicagoCAC.

This training is CEU-eligible, please enquire for more information.

Saturday, April 25   |   11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Touhy Herbert Park, 2106 W. Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60612

Join the Chicago Police Department’s 12th District for a day of family wellness featuring free activities, interactive games for children, and wellness resources. Hosted by CPD 12th District and ChicagoCAC.

No RSVP required.