Helpful Resources

If you know or suspect a child is being physically or sexually abused or neglected, call the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline at 800-25- ABUSE (800-252- 2873) or TTY 800- 358-5117). Your report can remain anonymous. You can also visit https://childabuse.illinois.gov/

If a child is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 first. Your confidential call will not only make sure the child is safe, but also help provide the child’s family the services they need to foster a safe, loving and nurturing home.

Outside of Illinois, call 1-800- 422-4453.

Play it Safe!® child abuse awareness and prevention program is an evidence-based, risk reduction curriculum that uses age-appropriate materials to educate children Pre-K through high school in ways they can best learn and respond. Scripts and videos are developed through an evidence-based approach to teach children and teens how to reduce their risk of sexual and physical abuse by recognizing potentially abusive behavior, responding appropriately to threatening situations, and reporting abuse to a trusted adult. Program topics include safe, unsafe, and confusing touch for elementary-aged children and sexting, healthy relationships and dating violence for middle and high school-aged children.

Click here for a printable version of our Parent Resource Guide for tips and helpful information about what to look for and how to talk to your child about the threat of in-person and online dangers from predators. 

Click here for a printable version of our child advocacy center's brochure highlighting our services and contact information. These are also available at all community events where we have a presence.

Erin’s Law is named after childhood sexual assault survivor, author, speaker and activist Erin Merryn, who is the founder and President of Erin’s Law, which is registered with the State of Illinois and the IRS as a 501 (c)(4) non-profit social welfare organization.

After Erin introduced the legislation in her home state of Illinois, the bill was named “Erin’s Law” after her by legislators and it has caught on nationwide. Illinois is the first state by law to mandate child sexual abuse prevention. As of January 2023 Erin’s Law has been passed in 38 states. "Erin’s Law” requires that all public schools implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program.

Click on the photo of Erin or here to watch a video.

Faith’s Law is named after prevention advocate and child sexual abuse survivor Faith Colson, who graduated from an Illinois high school in the early 2000s. Faith was sexually abused by a teacher at her high school. Years later, during the course of legal proceedings related to the abuse, Faith learned that several adults within her high school suspected that the teacher’s relationship with her was inappropriate but did not take appropriate action to report their concerns. As a result of her experiences, Faith pushed for change to state laws related to educator sexual misconduct in K-12 schools. Faith’s Law was passed by the 102nd General Assembly as two separate pieces of legislation.

Click on the photo of Faith of here to watch a video.