Meet Our Staff

Denise, Executive Director

​​Denise is the Child Advocacy Center's Executive Director and performs the overall administrative tasks  to ensure a fiscally sound operation of the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center and CASA. This includes grant writing, preparing monthly fiscal reports, quarterly grant reports, and submitting the annual budget. She oversees the agency's individual programs and ensures all policies and procedures are being followed. She oversees the day to day operations.

Nate, Program Director

​As Program Director, Nate supervises both the Advocate and Forensic Interview programs at the CAC. Himself, as well as the interviewers he supervises, are all specially trained in the ChildFirst Protocol to interview children who are the victims or witnesses of alleged abuse. Nate also serves as the CAC MDT Coordinator by facilitating a coordinated approach in the investigation of child abuse and ensuring/enforcing best practices for these cases. These duties include promoting healthy relationships among MDT members, provide training opportunities to MDT members, and training new partners on the CAC process. Nate also assists the executive director in performance of additional administrative duties as needed.

Gabe Bell, Prevention Educator - Part Time

The Prevention Educator is responsible for presenting age appropriate personal safety (sexual abuse prevention) programs to children in grades K through 12. The Prevention Educator will also provide in-service training to educators, school personnel, and other professionals on indicators and dynamics of sexual abuse, handling disclosures, mandated reporting, and prevention-education programs.​ ​

Bre, Victim Advocate

She provides services to victims and their non-offending family members in Sangamon County from the time the case is opened through disposition. She assesses family's needs, explains the investigative and legal process, and works with the MDT to ensure the child is our focus. She provides service referrals, court advocacy, and medical advocacy. Advocates assist the family in filing for an Order of Protection, serving as the liaison between them and the Law Enforcement/DCFS on the case, applying for Crime Victims Compensation, Court Accompaniment, writing a Victim Impact Statement, etc.

Cody, Victim Advocate

He provides services to victims and their non-offending family members in Sangamon County from the time the case is opened through disposition. He assesses family's needs, explains the investigative and legal process, and works with the MDT to ensure the child is our focus. He provides service referrals, court advocacy, and medical advocacy. Advocates assist the family in filing for an Order of Protection, serving as the liaison between them and the Law Enforcement/DCFS on the case, applying for Crime Victims Compensation, Court Accompaniment, writing a Victim Impact Statement, etc.

Sam, Victim Advocate

She provides services to victims and their non-offending family members in Sangamon County from the time the case is opened through disposition. She assesses family's needs, explains the investigative and legal process, and works with the MDT to ensure the child is our focus. She provides service referrals, court advocacy, and medical advocacy. Advocates assist the family in filing for an Order of Protection, serving as the liaison between them and the Law Enforcement/DCFS on the case, applying for Crime Victims Compensation, Court Accompaniment, writing a Victim Impact Statement, etc.

Marlon, Outreach Coordinator

Marlon plays a key role in coordinating our outreach and education efforts. He manages a calendar of community events and presentations, fosters strong relationships with partner organizations, and ensures our child abuse prevention education is delivered to schools and staff. He also maintains accurate records for reporting and accreditation, supervises part-time Prevention Educators, and frequently present in schools and community settings to raise awareness and promote child safety.

Jessica, Grant and Fiscal Manager

Jessica is responsible for securing grants and other funding to support the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center and CASA of Sangamon County’s mission and programs. She oversees budget, financial forecasting, and cash flow for the organization.

Hannah, Forensic Interviewer

Hannah is specially trained in the ChildFirst Protocol to interview children who have alleged abuse. She is a Forensic Interviewer. Hannah facilitates a coordinated approach in the investigation of child abuse by ensuring/enforcing best practices for these cases. 

Destiny, Full Time Mental Health Therapist

Destiny provides supportive services to victims and their non-offending families. This is done through assessment of psychological concerns and by providing psychological treatment to the child/non-offending family when a disclosure of abuse is made in the forensic interview. In addition, she can provide consultation to other members of the team on mental health concerns. Destiny is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Part Time Mental Health Therapist

 She provides supportive services to victims and their non-offending families. This is done through assessment of psychological concerns and by providing psychological treatment to the child/non-offending family when a disclosure of abuse is made in the forensic interview. In addition, she can provide consultation to other members of the team on mental health concerns. She will be trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.