Child Advocacy Center Inc

PROVIDES ADVOCACY, FORENSIC INTERVIEWS, AND MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR CHILDREN, WHO MAY HAVE BEEN ABUSED, THROUGH A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM APPROACH; PROVIDES EDUCATION PROGRAMMING TO BREAK ABUSE CYCLES AND ULTIMATELY PREVENT CHILD ABUSE IN OUR REGION.

THE CURRENT PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER'S INCLUDE ADVOCACY, FORENSIC INTERVIEWS, MEDICAL EXAMS, TRAINING, MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS, AND MDT COORDINATION. THESE SERVICES ARE DONE WHILE IMPLEMENTING A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH AMONG ALL AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION. UNIQUE TO THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER IS JAVA, A SPECIALLY TRAINED COMFORT DOG WHO SITS WITH CHILDREN DURING THEIR FORENSIC INTERVIEW AND IN SOME CASES THEIR MEDICAL EXAM. IN 2021, 1,418 CHILDREN WERE SERVED. THE CHILD AND FAMILY ADVOCATES FOLLOW THE CASE FROM BEGINNING TO END AND PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT TO THE NON-OFFENDING CAREGIVER TO ENSURE THAT THE CHILD IS, IN TURN, SUPPORTED. THIS INCLUDES COORDINATING SUPPORT SERVICES TO MEET IMMEDIATE AND ONGOING NEEDS. CASE UPDATES ARE REGULARLY GIVEN BY THE CHILD ADVOCATES TO KEEP THE GUARDIAN INFORMED. THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW IS CONDUCTED ONE-ON-ONE BY A PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED INTERVIEWER WHILE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM OBSERVE AND LISTEN THROUGH CLOSED CIRCUIT VIDEO SYSTEMS. THE FORENSIC INTERVIEWER FOLLOWS A DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PROTOCOL THAT UTILIZES RESEARCH AND PRACTICE-INFORMED TECHNIQUES TO GATHER DETAILS ABOUT AN EVENT THE CHILD MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED OR WITNESSED. MEDICAL SERVICES AVAILABLE INCLUDE CHILD AT RISK EXAMS (CARE), SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMS (SAFE), AND HEALTHY CHILD AND YOUTH SCREENINGS. THE MEDICAL EXAMS ARE NONINVASIVE, CONDUCTED IN A CHILD-FRIENDLY MANNER, AND THE CHILD-VICTIMS ARE NEVER FORCED TO COMPLETE AN EXAM. THE HIGHLY TRAINED STAFF OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND MEDICAL ASSISTANTS WORK TIRELESSLY TO CREATE A COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT THAT DOES NOT FEEL THREATENING OR INTIMIDATING. THE MEDICAL EXAMINATION IS IMPORTANT NOT JUST FOR WHAT IT MAY PROVIDE TO THE INVESTIGATION, BUT BECAUSE BEING TOLD "YOU ARE OK. YOU ARE NOT BROKEN." BY A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL CAN BE A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN THE CHILD VICTIM'S HEALING JOURNEY. THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER PROVIDES TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR PROFESSIONALS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FRONT-LINE PROVIDERS ON PREVENTING, RECOGNIZING, RESPONDING TO, AND REPORTING CHILD ABUSE. THE WIDE ARRAY OF TRAINING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE INCLUDE STEWARDS OF CHILDREN, MANDATED REPORTER, CHILD SAFETY MATTERS, AND TEEN SAFETY MATTERS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER PROVIDES MDT SPECIFIC TRAINING INCLUDING NEW MDT MEMBER TRAINING, FIRST CONTACT: MINIMAL FACTS TRAINING, AND BUILDING INITIAL CHILD INTERVIEWING SKILLS. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VICTIM CENTER, A LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER CONNECTS CHILD VICTIMS TO TRAUMA- FOCUSED THERAPY TO SUPPORT THEIR HEALING PROCESS. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST AND ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO NON-OFFENDING CAREGIVERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. THE COLLABORATIVE AND EFFECTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP AMONG MDT MEMBERS IS CENTRAL TO ENSURING THE RESPONSE TO CHILD ABUSE IS PROMPT TO REDUCE SEVERITY AND COORDINATED TO ENSURE ON-GOING SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS. THE MDT COORDINATORS SCHEDULE AND MANAGE MONTHLY MDT MEETINGS, CONVENE CASE SPECIFIC MDT REVIEWS AS NEEDED, AND HELP MAINTAIN AN EFFECTIVE FLOW OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION AMONG ALL MDT PARTNERS.