Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois Steps Off in 25 Cities for the Champions4Children Walk on May 15

Over 1,000 people walk to increase public awareness about child abuse in Illinois.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Walkers from across the state of Illinois will lace up for a statewide walk in support of the Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois and its 38 member Centers. Established in 1995, the Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois is the network that coordinates and provides a comprehensive response to child abuse in Illinois. To increase awareness, knowledge and education, the Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois is proud that 25 cities and towns will participate in the third annual Champions4Children Walk sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100511/DC02089)

"Each walker – each supporter – is a true Champion for Children," explained Billie Larkin, executive director of

the Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois. The third annual Champions4Children Walk will be held on May 15,

2010, and will bring awareness to child abuse issues. Additionally, the Champions4Children Walk will increase knowledge about the services of local Children's Advocacy Centers and the difference these services make in a child's life. The walk will help raise funds through pledges and sponsorships for the 38 Children's Advocacy Centers in Illinois, which serve 88 of the state's 102 counties.

Walkers are encouraged to lace up and make a difference for our children! In the past year alone, Children's Advocacy Centers throughout Illinois provided support and services to over 10,500 children. Clairice Hetzler, executive director, Advocacy Network for Children, Quincy, said, "We walk for 10,500 voices. We walk to ensure that children have champions in their lives. We walk to be the difference."

For more information and to register for this exciting event, please visit http://www.cacionline.org. Governor Pat Quinn serves as the Grand Marshall and Erwin McEwen, director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, serves as honorary Chair for  the Champions4Children Walk.

About Children's Advocacy Centers

Children's Advocacy Centers came to the forefront in Illinois during the 1980's. Illinois' Children's Advocacy Centers were based on the first Center developed by a district attorney in Alabama, Bud Cramer. He saw the need for a more streamlined, child-friendly approach to interviewing children who had suffered sexual and severe physical abuse. The model that Cramer developed in Alabama and that is used in Illinois, utilizes a multidisciplinary team approach to the investigation, prosecution and treatment of child abuse cases. Members of the multidisciplinary team include law enforcement officers, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services' investigators, prosecutors, medical and mental health personnel and members of the Children's Advocacy Center. Other professionals may be included, but these are the primary professions represented on the team.

In 1989, the first two Children's Advocacy Centers opened Lake and DuPage Counties with many others following suit in the years to come. Currently there are 38 Children's Advocacy Centers throughout Illinois and over 700 across the country.

SOURCE Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois