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WHAT
DO CAC’s OFFER CHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES?
An
environment in which child victims feel
more comfortable describing the events
in the presences of all agencies involved.
It is a place:
-
where law enforcement personnel, state
attorneys and child protective service
workers promptly investigate alleged
incidents of child abuse.
- where
physically, sexually, and/or emotionally
abused children may receive counseling
and psychological services to help
them overcome the trauma of abusive
parents.
-
where families receive the support
needed when they learn that a child
in the family may have been abused.
-
where trained professionals and interested
volunteers can work together to improve
the safety and well-being of children
through intervention and prevention
in their communities.
-
where a complete medical forensic
evaluation can be conducted by trained,
specialized medical staff.
PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES
-
Case Coordination and Forensic
Reviews: The victim sensitive
forensic interview is conducted by
specially trained child interviewers
and is designed to eliminate suggestibility
using the latest, research based practices.
The goal is to interview children
only once to reduce trauma and strengthen
investigations.
-
Family and Court Advocacy:
CAC’s have family advocates
to guide and support families during
and after the investigation process.
They assess the need for follow-up
services and locate providers in the
family’s community. The court
advocates explain the court process
to families, help prepare children
and family members for testimony and
may accompany families to court.
-
Mental Health: Mental
Health Staff consult on all cases
involving children and/or family members
with mental health disorders: diagnose
mental health disorders in clients
and provide immediate crisis counseling
if necessary, assist family advocates
with referrals to mental health treatment
agencies, and host on-site group and
individual therapy sessions for children
and non-offending parents.
-
Medical Services:
Medical clinics at CAC’s provide
complete forensic medical evaluations
of children by trained staff who are
specialized in these type of examinations.
-
Investigations and Prosecutions:
Professionals from child welfare services,
police departments and State’s
Attorney’s Offices work as a
task force to investigate and may
ultimately prosecute cases of child
maltreatment,
-
Multi-Disciplinary Teamwork:
The members of each of the partner
agencies join together as a team to
provide the best possible support
on each case.
*Each
CAC is unique and may not provide all
of the services listed above.
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