Vermilion County Child Advocacy Center has Ribbon Cutting, but Busy Since July

Although the Vermilion County Child Advocacy Center’s ribbon cutting is now official, children needing its assistance have been coming since this past July.  Child victims or witnesses of physical or sexual abuse are able to tell their stories in a comfortable setting, and have their testimonies admissible in court.  State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy says, Vermilion County was one of a minority of Illinois counties without one, and it was simply time.

AUDIO: We’ve had great County Board support.  Sheriff Hartshorn has supported us 110 percent, Chairman Vaughn, and everybody else’s support; along with the state support, and getting this up and running so that child sex victims have a safe place to come and tell their story.

Sheriff Pat Hartshorn says this advocacy center allows for a special team effort to do something very important for children.

AUDIO: Now all the law enforcement agencies and the social agencies, the prosecutor’s office, everybody will be together at the same time for these interviews.  And then the follow up will be taken care of by the social workers.

The Vermilion County Child Advocacy Center gives children a comfortable place to talk with someone they can trust.

The center’s Child Family Advocate Jonathan Munoz says making the children comfortable is top priority, after they’ve been through a traumatic event.

AUDIO: When they come here they see it’s a child friendly environment.  They see all these super hero stickers, all these quotes, how nice the people are to the family and the client as well.  So them leaving with a smile on their face makes me know that we’re doing our job 110 percent for the child.

Executive Director Brooke Ferber says it was good to have the ribbon cutting to remind people that they are here, doing their job since July, and ready to serve the community.

AUDIO: We wanted to make sure we did an open house, just a grand opening so people know we were here, where we were located, what we stood for, and what we were planning to achieve.

The Vermilion County Child Advocacy Center is located in the Health Department building, with an address of 200 S. College Street, Suite B.