A Children’s Advocacy Center is a child-focused, community-based program that brings
together representatives from many different disciplines - law enforcement, child protection,
prosecution, mental health, medical and victim advocacy - to work together making team
decisions about the investigation, treatment, management, and prosecution of child abuse cases
while minimizing further traumatization of child abuse victims.
The CAC is a non-profit organization, governed by a diverse board of directors from the
community. Services are free thanks to the annual generosity of individuals, businesses,
organizations and public agencies.
Before the CAC, a child had to tell their traumatic experience possibly more than 12 times. Now,
a child comes to our child-friendly center and shares their story only once. The CAC team
coordinates the investigation and guides the child and family through the entire process. In
addition, the CAC offers multiple services to help heal and restore their lives.
CAC on site services include:
Forensic Interviews by a professional who is specially trained to minimize a child's stress and
support a sound investigation.
Medical Exams for the child victim on the same day as the forensic interview and conducted by a
pediatric medical examiner in a child-friendly room.
Mental Health Therapy that is trauma-focused and age/developmentally appropriate to help
children begin to heal.
Victim Advocacy which ensures complete and comprehensive services at all stages of the
investigative process, including all steps of the criminal justice process, when applicable, for
each child abuse victim and their family served at the ACCAC.
Member Since: 2007