DuPage County Children's Advocacy Center Hosts Open House; Bob Berlin Salutes Center’s Work On Behalf Of Juvenile Victims, Families

Bob Berlin, DuPage County State’s Attorney, and West Chicago Investigator Daniel Herbert.

IN 2013, BOB BERLIN HELPED REDEDICATE THE CENTER AND STATED THEN: “WE RE-COMMIT OURSELVES TO PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN, AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE WHO HARM THEM ARE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE. OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR MOST PRECIOUS ASSET, AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GUARD THEM AND PROVIDE THEM WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME TOMORROW’S LEADERS.”

WHEATON – On April 18, 2023, the DuPage County Children's Advocacy Center hosted an open house for the benefit of social services and law enforcement agencies throughout the County.

At the open house, DuPage County State's Attorney Bob Berlin recognized Investigator Daniel Herbert of the West Chicago Police Department with a special Recognition of Excellence Award for his work on a recent case. Cathy Hundley, Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center, provided Investigator Herbert with a warm introduction.

The mission of the Children’s Advocacy Center is to provide a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach to child sexual and physical abuse investigations which recognizes the special needs of child victims while demanding accountability for the crimes of sexual and physical abuse.

In March 1987, under the leadership of then-State’s Attorney Jim Ryan, the Children’s Advocacy Center opened its doors to the children of DuPage County. It was one of the first such centers in the nation and the first in Illinois. For the past 36 years, the mission of the Children’s Advocacy Center has never changed.

Over the years, the Children’s Advocacy Center has expanded its operations. In 1999, State's Attorney Joseph E. Birkett, expanded the mission of the Center to include cases involving serious physical abuse of children, and then in 2001, State's Attorney Birkett expanded the mission to include interviewing children who have witnessed domestic violence or violent crimes at the request of any police department or prosecutor.

In 2013, State’s Attorney Berlin helped to dedicate the then-brand-new Children’s Advocacy Center as the “Jeanine Nicarico Children’s Advocacy Center.” At the dedication ceremony, State’s Attorney Berlin commended the Children’s Advocacy Center for the minimization of stress it would afford victims and their families, while simultaneously helping prosecutors obtain justice in exceedingly difficult cases.

While praising the Nicarico family for their strength, courage, and advocacy, State’s Attorney Berlin concluded his remarks by stating, “We re-commit ourselves to protecting our children, and making sure that those who harm them are brought to justice and held accountable. Our children are our most precious asset, and we must continue to do everything we can to guard them and provide them with opportunities to become tomorrow’s leaders.”

Since 2009 the number cases accepted by the Children’s Center have increased steadily from below 300 to 367 in 2022. Since 2020, the Children’s Center has seen a 29% increase in the number of cases accepted.  

###