What CACs Do

 

What is a Children's Advocacy Center? 

Utilizing a joint investigative team approach, Children’s Advocacy Centers are facility-based community partnerships dedicated to pursuing the truth in child abuse investigations.  Professionals work as a multidisciplinary team to investigate and intervene in cases of suspected child abuse, primarily sexual abuse. 

This multidisciplinary team approach brings together all the professionals and agencies needed to offer comprehensive services:  law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, victim advocates, forensic interviewers, mental-health and the medical community.  Attention to the needs and abilities of children is the hallmark of a Children’s Advocacy Center.  Designed as a safe and welcoming place for children to be heard, CACs ensure that children are not further victimized by the interventions intended to protect them.

 

Core components of a Children’s Advocacy Center are: 

Child-focused, safe environments   

Multidisciplinary teams include representation from law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, victim advocates, forensic interviewers, mental-health and the medical community

Case review

Case follow-up and tracking