The Children's Advocacy Centers (CAC) are a new way of serving child victims of sexual abuse or serious physical abuse through a comprehensive approach to services for victims and their families. The Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) provides a safe, neutral, child-friendly environment where child victims of non-offending families meet with members of a multidisciplinary team of professionals for the purpose of investigation. The Children's Advocacy Center staff provides advocacy services and help bridge the gap between social services, law enforcement, and the court system.

What happens at the CAC?

When a child victim arrives at the center CAC staff greets the child victim and non-offending family making the child comfortable in one of the age appropriate waiting areas.

The child meets the trained child forensic interviewer and other team members who are present. The interview occurs in an age appropriate, child sensitive room. Every interview at the CAC is videotaped for the purpose of investigation. The videotape reduces the number of times a child victim must tell his or her story. Professionals participating in the investigation may view the videotape. Although the videotape may be used as evidence in court, it does not eliminate the child's testimony if the case goes to trial.

During the interview, CAC staff meets with non-offending family to obtain pertinent information such as telephone numbers and addresses so that CAC staff will have a means of ongoing communication with the family. CAC staff will explain the investigation process to the family. Medical and mental health (counseling) referrals will be made when appropriate.

The multidisciplinary team member(s) talk with the non-offending family while at the center.