Las named head of Will Children's Advocacy Center

Lisa Morel Las has been named to take the helm as the new executive director of the Will County Children's Advocacy Center.

Las served most recently as the chief executive officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy counties. She will bring to the Children's Advocacy Center her enthusiasm and expertise in managing and growing community-based, not-for-profit organizations.

During her 11-year tenure at Big Brothers Big Sisters, Las dramatically raised the organization's community profile, secured more than $1 million in federal grants and spearheaded a successful capital campaign to purchase new office headquarters in Joliet.

Under her direction, the organization also opened satellite offices to serve the needs of children in Grundy, Kankakee and Iroquois counties.

"Lisa's tremendous successes at Big Brothers Big Sisters brought this important community organization to the highest possible level of service on behalf of local children who need mentorship and support," Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow said. "We're pleased she will put her passion and skills to work for the Children's Advocacy Center as we plan for the expansion of services to sexually abused children and their families."

Glasgow established the Children's Advocacy Center 20 years ago to improve investigations into cases involving the sexual abuse of children. When children make an outcry of sexual abuse, they are brought to the center, where trained forensic interviewers obtain an accurate statement in a neutral, non-suggestive and child-friendly environment.

Interviews recorded at the center have been used in the successful prosecution of thousands of child predators over the past two decades. In addition, the center's staff provides children and families with counseling and other social services that enable the healing process to begin.

In her new role, Las will work closely with the center's newest addition: Jackson, a therapy dog who helps reduce anxiety for children. With a new law that allows therapy dogs in the courtroom, Jackson could find himself on the witness stand with vulnerable children in the near future.

A not-for-profit organization, the center relies on private and public grants, donations and community fundraisers like the popular Men Who Cook event in March to provide its important services.

Glasgow said the new director will work to expand community outreach and increase both public and private-sector funding for the Children's Advocacy Center.

Among a long list of goals is to secure funding to acquire a more child-friendly location that is not situated inside a government building.

In addition, the state's attorney hopes to secure funding to hire in-house, specially trained investigators to assist in handling the center's cases.

Las served as the Will County State's Attorney's director of public administration between 1995 and 1999 and was instrumental in securing federal grant funding that led to the establishment of the Will County Drug Court program.