• 1992 –  James W. Glasgow, Will County State’s Attorney, established a Child Advocacy Advisory Board as mandated by state legislation. The Board was convened to develop a protocol for the handling of cases involving sexually and physically abused children for all law enforcement agencies in the county, the Department of Children & Family Services, and the State’s Attorney’s Office. The State’s Attorney’s Office researched the progress of other counties throughout the state in relationship to Child Advocacy Programs, and it was found that Will County was in need of a Center. Funding sources were researched and applied for.

• April - 1995 –  James W. Glasgow, Will County State’s Attorney, established the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center to protect the children of Will County who have been sexually and/or physically abused. Funding was received through grants and donations from a variety of public and private entities. St. Joseph’s Hospital (now Provena St. Joseph Medical Center) agreed to match a grant from DCFS for the opening of the Center. The original Center was housed on the campus of Silver Cross Hospital which also provided funding. Staff consisted of an Executive Director & Administrative Assistant.

• August – 1995 – A working protocol was agreed to by all agencies involved and the Center began accepting cases.

• March – 1996 – Center was granted full membership status into the National Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers (now known as the National Children’s Alliance).

• 1996 –  Silver Cross Hospital donated the first colposcope to the Center. This instrument allowed doctors to examine and photograph trauma-related injuries.

• 1997 – The Center temporarily moved to a medical office at 210 N. Hammes in Joliet.

• October – 1997 – Center begins receiving VOCA (Victims of Crime Assistance) funding for victim counseling services. Staff also consisted of a Director, Administrative Assistant, Casemanager, and contractual forensic interviewer.

• December – 1997 – Center moves to the Pioneer Building in downtown Joliet and remained in this building until 2003.

• 1998 – Recognizing a greater need, State’s Attorney Glasgow extended Child Advocacy Center services to the children of both Kendall and Grundy counties.

• 1998 – Early this year two contractual forensic interviewers were added; they provided counseling to victims and non-offending caretakers.

• 1999 – Center presented with special recognition award for outstanding dedication and commitment to the children of Will County from the Will County Juvenile Officers’ Association.

• 1999 - To improve services to young victims, local law enforcement block grant funds were obtained to purchase a state-of-the-art digital colposcope which is a special piece of equipment similar to a combination of binoculars and microscope which provides a non-intrusive medical exam for the child. Subsequently, a collaborative partnership was established with Provena St. Joseph Medical Center.

• 2001 – The Center begins videotaping interviews to ensure an accurate record of the interviews and preservation of evidence.

• 2002 – The Center provided expanded medical exams for our children with Edwards Hospital with the establishment of their specialized “Care Center” for sexually abused children.

• 2002 – A second full-time Case Manager/Family Advocate was added to the staff.

• April – 2003 – Center moves to the 5^th floor of the Emco building in downtown Joliet – it’s present location.

• July – 2003 – The Advocacy Center is accepted as a member of the United Way of Will County.

• January – 2004 – The Center achieves Full Membership Accreditation with the National Children’s Alliance.

• October – 2004 – The Center receives a two-year federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, to implement a comprehensive outreach and education program to combat child physical and sexual abuse in Will, Grundy, and Kendall counties. The expansion included outreach services to the Latino population.

• February – 2005 – A full-time Bilingual Family Advocate was added to the staff, bringing the total staff to 5 full-time employees and 2 contractual licensed therapists.

• May – 2005 – Kendall County opens it’s own satellite office of the Children’s Advocacy Center. This vital service enables the children of Kendall County to be served in their own community with forensic staff being provided by the Will County Center.

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