Investigating and prosecuting the mistreatment of children takes a high level of care to avoid causing additional trauma to a young person, according to Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Deborah Bree, who is also the executive director of the Kane County Child Advocacy Center.
For the third time in its 23-year existence, the center has received accreditation that recognizes it meets high standards with its protocols, training and overall professional structure for handling claims of physical or sexual abuse to a minor victim. The National Children’s Alliance performed a “rigorous” review over the course of several months as part of the process which takes place every five years, Kane County officials said.
“It is a major accomplishment for our center,” Bree said during State’s Attorney Joe McMahon’s monthly press briefing this week.
The center has investigated an average of about 300 cases in recent years, with approximately 500 children interviewed each year. Bree explained that a team of five or six – which includes specially trained investigators, a case manager, an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services representative and counselors – is assigned to each case that comes into the center.
The coordinated team approach to these cases focus on treating the child carefully through the use of proper interview techniques, center officials said. Doing so also ensures that prosecutors arrive in court knowing that information was gathered the right way. The complexities of such cases continue to evolve because of technology and social media, but the commitment to young victims means “we need to change with what’s happening within the area of child maltreatment,” Bree said.
“Children are first and foremost,” she added.
That includes mental health counseling and other referrals for anyone who is screened by the center, even if charges don’t result.
“We never shut our door to somebody,” Bree said.
Dan Campana is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News