Overview

• Leaders held a ribbon-cutting Tuesday at 3410 W. Van Buren St., with the site operated by the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center.
• The multi-agency hub will serve survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking with counseling, legal aid, housing and mental-health referrals, plus direct access to law enforcement.
• Access will roll out in phases, with referrals required at launch and adult services beginning in the coming weeks, and long-term plans call for 24/7 availability.
• Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke cited a 26% year-over-year rise in domestic-violence arrests and 43 women killed since she took office as reasons for the initiative.
• Burke has created a Special Victims Bureau and officials say the center’s model is intended to build trust and improve victim participation, as advocates also report a 26% rise in hotline calls last year.