Children's Advocacy Centers - What You Should Know

[Smrtgrl96x]

I've been seeing many posts about child abuse.  I work at a Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) as a Child Forensic Interviewer.  Most people don't even know that Children's Advocacy Centers exist.  I'm here to tell you that they do, and they are here to help!  I want to educate moms about them so that you know where to get help, can volunteer, or just so you can learn more.  CACs were created to help children from "falling through the cracks" of the child welfare system and to lessen the trauma experienced curing the process of an abuse investigation.  CACs operate on the "Child First Doctrine" meaning that the children come FIRST - not Children's Services, not the parents, not the police...the CHILDREN.  They are a jackpot of information!

Children's Advocacy Centers offer services FREE OF CHARGE (unless they provide therapy, in which case they may bill insurance/medicaid.  The same goes for medical exams).  Children with allegations of sexual abuse, extreme physical abuse, life-threatening neglect, drug endangered and witnesses to violence are the populations usually served, though the primary focus is on sexual abuse. 

Children who receive interviews are less traumatized as they will be interviewed by a trained professional in a child friendly setting.  Other team members watch the interview from another room using either closed-circuit television or a one-way mirror.  This lessens the number of interviews a child must endure and the number of people they have to tell their story to.  That's not to say that in every case, only one interview will take place!  Sometimes more details come out, and a child would need to be re-interviewed - preferably by the same person.  It's a lot better than the previous system of sitting a 5 year old down at a cold grey police station and talked to a man in a uniform wearing a gun!  (Of course, I do know many officers that NEVER wear their gun in the presence of the children and do very well speaking with the kids). 

CACs vary greatly from center to center.  Some offer therapy at their site, some are located in hospitals and do medical exams at their sites, some have law enforcement and children's services co-located (have offices at the CAC).  The CAC where I work provides forensic interviews, medical and therapy referrals, case tracking, multidisciplinary team meetings, community education, court accompaniment, court preparation, victim support and other services.  There are CACs ALL OVER the country.  There is an accreditation process a CAC must go through to be accredited.  That is overseen by the National Children's Alliance.  CACs are divided into regions.  They are as listed below:

Jane Braun, Midwest Region Project Director
Email:[e-mail]    
Website: www.mrcac.org
serving Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin 

Anne Lynn, Northeast Region Project Director
Email:[e-mail]    
Website: www.nrcac.com
serving Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont 

Cym Doggett, Southern Region Project Director
Email:[e-mail]    
Website: www.nationalcac.org/professionals/srcac/
serving Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia

Maureen Fitzgerald , Western Region Project Director
Email: [e-mail]
serving Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

 

Please keep in mind that there are several centers in each state!  If you'd like to locate your nearest CAC, visit nca-online.org. In the top right corner of the page, it will ask you to select a state.  Choose yours and a list of centers will come up!

I know people often become frustrated with Children's Services.  Children's Advocacy Centers work with, NOT FOR, children's services, law enforcement or the prosecution.  If you'd like ANY more information about Children's Advocacy Center, please ask, and I'll give you the best answer I can. 

 

[dzsteph]

Jan. 23, 2008 at 2:00 PM That is great information.  If it helps just one child, it's worth it!

[thewaitingpace]

Jan. 23, 2008 at 6:08 PM

well child protection has contacted me today... after many many many calls from doctors & police & myself...

                     my case worker is rude & un-professional,my doctor told me she'd be out today..I called by 3 b/c no one showd & b/c the doctor called me back twice to see if anyone had showed up yet..

                        she threatend to take away a refural to a CAC whome I contacted myself..

                              I have also tryd to contact her supervisor after that,wont hear from anyone til tommorow..

                                          child protective services are not protecting my child,& my workers got more pride than effort....she wont even give me her name after the nasty incedent 

                              I simply asked when she'd be out today..& mentioned the doctor said someone would be out today..

                                           she said she wouldnt be out til LATER THIS WEEK..

                                                     I asked why so many doctors & police officers hadnt been able to get anyone out here in 5 weeks.. & she told me it sounded like I wanted to handle this myself!!!!

                                                             do I need a lawyer to deal with child protective? or what??
 

                                                          

[shell81]

Jan. 24, 2008 at 7:26 AM I am glad you wrote this I have wrote a whole bunch of  posts about abuse and getting help, etc.

[sarabugsmom]

Jan. 24, 2008 at 8:37 AM Thank you for such an informative and accurate post. I don't think that most people realize how much child abuse is in their own neighborhood. The system of support is so very needed in these situations. I experienced having Child Protective Services called in Texas. It was a bitter ex-wife that reported bruises all over our 4 year old down syndrome daughter. I couldn't believe it when CPS knocked on our door. But after talking to her and allowing her to examine our daughter, they came up with the correct answers. We never have abused our little girl. It is a scary situation to be drawn into, but thanks to people like you, they get down to the real truth of things. Great job!!!

[Mariposa_41]

Jan. 24, 2008 at 8:41 AM

I would like to speak with you further...but, I have to get on the treadmill! I have been on here all morning.

In HIS hands.

Tamy

[mandiebee]

Jan. 24, 2008 at 8:25 PM What a GREAT post! This is going to help alot of people! GREAT~