Jeffrey Epstein survivors support Chicago Children's Advocacy Center, abuse victims

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Each year, the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center has more than 2,200 children come in to share their experiences of abuse in an environment that tries to reduce the trauma to the child.

On Wednesday, the center got the support of two women who consider themselves Jeffrey Epstein survivor advocates.

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Jena Lisa Jones and Jess Michaels have become experienced at sharing their stories. They say they were sexually abused at the hands of Epstein and his ring of high profile collaborators.

"The Epstein files and the lack of accountability and the lack of justice is just bringing that to the forefront of what happens to families every single day and people are willing to talk about it now," Michaels said.

ABC7 spoke with them at the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center.

"It destroyed my sense of self and who I thought I was at an extremely sensitive and vulnerable age," Michaels said.

"It's so important what they are doing here have therapists for them giving them a safe space to speak, and standing alongside them and not have to continuously tell their story over and over again, that is so traumatizing to children," Jones said.

At the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center, children only retell their story once with trained clinicians while police and prosecutor are able to listen in. Regardless of the outcome of legal action, the children and their families are offered short term and long term support.

"They have the autonomy to walk into that interview room and share some pretty heavy stuff that's happened to them, because we have the entire team here to accommodate whatever needs they have," said Veronica Pierce with the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center. "It allows that child to begin the healing process."

Jones and Michaels were in Chicago on Wednesday for the center's annual fundraiser. Michaels was the keynote speaker.

"You can change it. You can make a difference," Michaels said. "That one voice can make a difference and we are infinitely more powerful when we do it together."

The advocates hope to reduce the stigma around taking about sexual harm so that women feel empowered to speak up, or even prevent becoming victims.

Michaels has created an app for survivors and for friends of survivors, called #WithYouToo.

More details on how to support the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center can be found here.