At ChicagoCAC, we believe that adults are responsible for keeping children safe.
Some of ChicagoCAC’s most visible contributions to families and children in our city and beyond occur in the realm of Education, Prevention & Outreach.
ChicagoCAC has over two decades of expertise in working with child victims and survivors, a strong commitment to trauma-informed practices, and specialized knowledge of how child sexual abuse occurs and how to prevent it.
Our team facilitates trainings and collaborative partnerships to prevent and respond to sexual abuse in Chicago and elsewhere. Through our education and professional development offerings, ChicagoCAC reaches thousands of child-serving professionals and community members annually.
ChicagoCAC also has developed several prevention resources, such as our Keeping My Family Safe Workbooks, that parents and caregivers can use to understand how child sexual abuse occurs and how to build a family culture that prioritizes personal safety, thus lowering the risk of abuse occurring.
Professional Development and Training
ChicagoCAC offers free and low-cost trainings to professionals, community members and first-responders on preventing, recognizing, responding to and reporting abuse. In many cases, continuing education units (CE hours) are available for social workers and counselors.
Trainings and education sessions provided by ChicagoCAC’s Education, Outreach and Prevention Department are made possible by a generous grant from the city of Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services.Â
Prevention Resources
View our resources section for information on what to do if you suspect a child is being abused, ways to prevent abuse and tips on internet safety.
Community Collaborations
ChicagoCAC convenes collaborative partnerships to prevent and respond to sexual abuse within specific populations. These partnerships include:
- The Chicago Prevention Alliance
- Coalition Against Sexual Abuse of Children with Disabilities (CASACD)
- Providing Access Toward Hope and Healing (PATHH) Collaboration
- The Community Advisory Council
We are also proud to be a network member of the Selah Way Foundation, a national network of the most highly-vetted anti-sex trafficking service providers dedicated to eradicating this issue on a global scale. Network members provide national services and training on a global level. By locking arms with the leading, expert organizations in this movement, The Selah Way Foundation creates a solid system of care for survivors of sex trafficking.