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Serves children who have experienced abuse through a comprehensive approach of providing services to the child and their non-offending family members. Staff provides advocacy services to help bridge the gap between law enforcement and the court system.


Services include:
- Forensic interviews
- Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy
- Resource referrals
- Medical forensic exam

Provides child-sensitive interviews and advocacy for families impacted by sexual and severe physical abuse.


Services offered:
- Multidisciplinary team case reviews
- Training in child-sensitive investigations
- Referrals for specialized medical exams
- Court preparation
- Community education

Assists DCFS, law enforcement, and the States Attorney's Office in coordinating the investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse/assault and/or severe physical abuse cases in McHenry County.

Provides the only approved site for forensic interviewing of child victims and provides advocacy for clients who may be involved in the judicial process. Also coordinates and provides advocacy for conducting specialized medical exams with qualified providers for alleged child victims of abuse.

Counseling (trauma based and abuse assessments) for survivors and non-offending family members is provided through a linkage agreement with a local agency of therapeutic services.

Services also include a crisis response through the McHenry County Crisis Line.

Categories

Child Advocacy Centers
Child Abuse Medical Evaluations

Provides interviews and examines abused children for sexual and physical abuse. Provides psychological assessment and treatment for children. Teaches children about the difference between good and bad touches.

Provides the facilitation of investigations of child sexual and physical abuse. Provides a safe, child friendly place for children and their families to meet with a specially trained interviewer and advocate who provide referrals for specialized medical exams, counseling services, and any other resources necessary. Assists children and families throughout law enforcement and DCFS investigations. Also provides child abuse prevention and body safety resources for families.

Categories

General Abuse Prevention
Child Abuse Medical Evaluations
Abuse Counseling

The Center is dedicated to serving the best interests of sexually/ physically abused and neglected children by providing:

- A safe and comfortable environment for the child and family to feel at ease while talking about the abuse during the investigation process.

- Linkage and coordination between police investigators, child welfare workers, prosecutors, and treatment providers so that the number of victim interviews can be reduced.

- An interdisciplinary review process for decision-making, problem-solving, information sharing and case monitoring.

- A comprehensive tracking system shared by all appropriate agencies for those children who have been sexually/ physically abused.

- Specialized training for professionals involved with victims and families in child sexual/ physical abuse cases.

- Education and prevention in dealing with issues of sexual/ physical/ abuse.

- Provides medical evaluations performed by physicians specially trained in the detection and treatment of child physical/sexual abuse.

Forensic interviews when requested by law enforcement or Child Protective Services. A child interview specialist will conduct a video-taped forensic interview with the child. One of the goals of this interview is to reduce the number of times the child must tell the story of his/her abuse.

Medical exams to evaluate children who are suspected to have been abused or neglected.

Assessment and referrals by mental health professionals, who assess each child's needs and refer them to the appropriate therapy, support groups, and other resources. Families also receive help in "understanding the system".

Multidisciplinary teams consisting of law enforcement, Child Protective Services, medical professionals, prosecution, school personnel, Project Harmony staff, and other professionals regularly review cases to make certain children do not fall through the cracks. Teams work toward making changes and finding solutions to any problems in reporting and investigating child abuse, permanency, treatment, and system issues.

Anyone can refer a case to the teams; call and include:

-- The child's name

-- Date of birth

-- School

-- Protective Service Worker's name

-- The reason for the referral

Training to professionals and volunteers.

Categories

Child Abuse Prevention
Child Abuse Medical Evaluations
Child Advocacy Centers
Abuse response, detection, investigation, treatment and follow-up services for child victims of abuse.

Offers comprehensive and multidisciplinary response to child sexual abuse and serious physical abuse allegations. Services include discussing and making decisions about the investigation, treatments, and prosecution. The team typically includes law enforcement, DCFS, medical professionals, case managers, and crisis intervention counselors.

The clinic in Postville offers specialty and primary health care services including offering family practice physicians to provide primary health care for all ages. Services include: Birth control counseling, Child abuse medical evaluations, Childhood immunizations, General obstetrics, General physical examinations, Gynecology services, Confidential HIV testing, Pregnancy testing, Seasonal flu vaccinations, Sexually transmitted disease screening, Shingles immunizations, and Well baby care.

Categories

Pregnancy Testing
General Obstetrics
Confidential HIV Testing
Childhood Immunization
Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening
Shingles Immunizations
Child Abuse Medical Evaluations
Flu Vaccines
General Medical Care
Well Baby Care
Family and Community Medicine
Gynecology Services
General Physical Examinations
Hospital Based Outpatient Services
Birth Control Counseling

Serves children who have experienced abuse through a comprehensive approach of providing services to the child and their non-offending family members. Staff provides advocacy services to help bridge the gap between law enforcement and the court system.


Services include:
- Forensic interviews
- Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy
- Resource referrals
- Medical forensic exam

Provides child-sensitive interviews and advocacy for families impacted by sexual and severe physical abuse.


Services offered:
- Multidisciplinary team case reviews
- Training in child-sensitive investigations
- Referrals for specialized medical exams
- Court preparation
- Community education

Categories

Child Abuse Prevention
Child Abuse Medical Evaluations
STAR Center (formerly know as Regional Child Protection Center) brings together a multi-disciplinary team of professionals in the investigation, treatment and prosecution of child abuse cases in Central Iowa. These services are offered in an easy-to-access, child-friendly location by individuals dedicated to putting the child's health, well-being and safety first.

Drug Endangered Children program (DEC) provides services for infants and children who have been exposed to drugs before birth (or through a parent's illicit drug use or manufacturing). DEC is dedicated to protecting Iowa's children through a multi-disciplinary collaboration of services. Early identification and intervention for children exposed to drugs is the emphasis, so they can live a healthier life.

Categories

Child Abuse Medical Evaluations
Child Sexual Assault Prevention
Child Advocacy Centers
Sexual Assault Treatment

Provides a safe, child focused setting for investigations of child abuse, ensure victims and their families receive quality services, and raise awareness in the community to combat child abuse.

The victim advocates provide services to victims and their non-offending family members from the time the case is opened through disposition. They also assess needed service referrals, provide medical and court advocacy, and keep the victim and family members up to date on the status of the case.

Some of the services provided by advocates are:

- Assistance filing an order of protection.

- Setting up a follow up medical exam.

- Court accompaniment.

- Case updates.

- Assistance finding counseling.

Categories

Child Advocacy Centers
Child Sexual Assault Prevention
Child Abuse Medical Evaluations

Provides all children suspected of being physically abused, sexually abused, or neglected with timely expert medical evaluations and treatment, as well as serving the community as a resource for prevention, research, and education.

- MERIT case coordinator will receive requests for evaluation.
- The coordinator will arrange for second opinions from other CAC's or DCFS investigators.
- Medical personnel will collaborate with investigative providers to determine next steps.

Provides child-sensitive interviews and advocacy for families impacted by sexual and severe physical abuse.


Services offered:
- Multidisciplinary team case reviews
- Training in child-sensitive investigations
- Referrals for specialized medical exams
- Court preparation
- Community education

Categories

Child Abuse Prevention
Child Abuse Medical Evaluations