Childrens Advocacy Center Of Collin County Inc

THE MISSION OF CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF COLLIN COUNTY IS TO PROVIDE SAFETY, HEALING, AND JUSTICE TO CHILDREN VICTIMIZED BY ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

CLINICAL DEPARTMENT EXPENSES - THE CENTER'S CLINICAL DEPARTMENT OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION METHODS FOR TRAUMATIZED CHILDREN, INCLUDING ART THERAPY, MUSIC THERAPY, AND PLAY THERAPY, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP THERAPIES. SUPPORT GROUPS ARE ALSO PROVIDED FOR GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN AND MOTHERS OF SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS. THE PROGRAM IS STAFFED BY LICENSED THERAPISTS AS WELL AS GRADUATE LEVEL INTERNS. IN 2021-2022, 784 CLIENTS RECEIVED 10,220 THERAPY SERVICES. THEGRADUATE LEVEL INTERNS PROVIDED 2,444 PRO-BONO HOURS OF THERAPY SERVICES. ALLSERVICES ARE OFFERED AT NO COST, FOR AS LONG AS THE VICTIM NEEDS HELP. THE CLINICAL DEPARTMENT PROVIDES THESE SERVICES IN-PERSON AND THROUGH TELEHEALTH.

FAMILY ADVOCATE AND SUPPORT SERVICES - THE FAMILY ADVOCATE PROGRAM HAS TWO PHASES, SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM. THE LONG-TERM FAMILY ADVOCATES GREET EACH CLIENT AT THEIR FIRST VISIT TO THE CENTER, EXPLAIN THE PROCESS, AND PROVIDE SUPPORT. IF THE CHILD MAKES A DISCLOSURE OF ABUSE, THE LONG-TERM FAMILY ADVOCATE PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY UNTIL THE CASE GOES TO CRIMINAL TRIAL, WHICH CAN TAKE UP TO TWO YEARS. THE LONG-TERM FAMILY ADVOCATE ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT WITH RESOURCES FOR FAMILY NEEDS DURING THE CRISIS.THE SHORT-TERM FAMILY ADVOCATE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON SHORT TERM STABILITY AND SUPPORT, WHICH IS ACHIEVED USING A STRENGTHS AND EMPOWERMENT MODEL. FOLLOWING A REFERRAL FROM THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM, A COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT IS CONDUCTED TO IDENTIFY STRENGTHS AND NEEDS OF THE CAREGIVER REGARDING HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, MEDICAL CARE, CHILDCARE, HOUSEHOLD FINANCES, AND PARENTING SKILLS. CLIENTS ARE ASSISTED WITHBUDGETING AND JOB SKILLS COUNSELING, ASSISTANCE WITH RESUMES, JOB SEARCH,INTERVIEWING SKILLS AND FILING FOR CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION (CVC). COMMUNITYRESOURCE INTERNS ARE STUDENT INTERNS FROM LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WHO ASSESSCLIENT NEEDS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO THENON-OFFENDING CAREGIVERS OF THE VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE. INTERNS AND STAFF FAMILY ADVOCATE CASEWORKERS PROVIDED 12,925 SERVICES TO 2,248 CLIENTS AND PERFORMED 8,824 PRO-BONO HOURS OF CASE WORK. OUTCOME MEASURES DEMONSTRATE THAT 91.5% OF CLIENTS SERVED HAD 96.5% OF THEIR NEEDS MET THROUGH THE PROGRAM. BACK-TO-SCHOOL FAIR: IN AUGUST 2022, CACCC HELD A HYBRID BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR, WITH BACKPACKS, SHOES, AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES PROVIDED IN A DRIVE-THRU FORMAT. SNACKS AND GAMES WERE AVAILABLE OUTSIDE FOR THOSE THAT FELT COMFORTABLE PARTICIPATING.

FORENSIC INTERVIEWS/CASE MANAGEMENT CACCCS SPECIALLY TRAINED FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS CONDUCT INVESTIGATIVE INTERVIEWS OF CHILDREN, TESTIFY IN COURT, AND PROVIDE TRAINING FOR THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM. THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW IS A FACT BASED, COMPREHENSIVE INTERVIEW DESIGNED TO GATHER ALL THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO ENSURE THE CHILDS SAFETY AS WELL AS INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE. INTERVIEWS ARE RECORDED TO MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE CHILD HAS TO TELL THEIR STORY. 1,175 FORENSIC INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED IN FY 2021-2022 THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. HOLLY-JOLLY HOLIDAY: THROUGH DONATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY, CACCC FULFILLED HOLIDAYWISHES FOR 1,229 CHILDREN THROUGH THE ADOPT-A-CHILD PROGRAM AND A TOY STORE SET UPESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVED BY CACCC. RAINBOW ROOM: EIGHT INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS SOLICIT DONATIONS AND MAINTAIN ANINVENTORY OF NEW CLOTHING AND NECESSITIES FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE REMOVED FROM THEIRHOME FOR THEIR SAFETY AND PLACED IN SUBSTITUTE CARE. THE RAINBOW ROOM IS ALSOAVAILABLE TO MEET SHORT-TERM EMERGENCY NEEDS FOR CACCC CLIENTS, AND SUPPORTRELATIVES WHO OPEN THEIR HEARTS AND HOMES TO CHILDREN. 1,198 CLIENTS RECEIVED SERVICESTHROUGH THE RAINBOW ROOM IN FY 2021-2022.