OUR SERVICES
What We Do at the Regional CAC
At the Regional Child Advocacy Center (RCAC), we provide a child-friendly, trauma-informed environment where children who have experienced abuse can feel safe, heard, and supported. Our goal is to reduce the trauma associated with abuse investigations and help children and families begin their healing journey.
Forensic Interviews
Specially trained forensic interviewers conduct one-on-one, developmentally appropriate interviews with children who may have experienced abuse or witnessed a violent crime. These interviews are conducted in a safe and neutral setting and are recorded to reduce the number of times a child has to share their story.
Victim Advocacy & Family Support
Support is provided to children and teens from the moment they enter the Child Advocacy Center throughout their involvement by our Victim Advocate. Follow-up phone calls, letters, court preparation and support, referral, and other services are provided to the children and their families to increase their comfort and encourage access to and participation in the investigation, prosecution, treatment, and support services.
Trauma-Focused COUNSELING
Free counseling is provided by a trained, professional counselor for children and teens who come through the Child Advocacy Center. The counseling is trauma-focused and is designed to reduce the impact of the abuse and help the child heal and become stronger. Also, the counselor can meet with the non-offending parent/caregiver and siblings if needed, to help them deal with their emotions and feelings.
Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Coordination
We bring together law enforcement, child protective services, prosecutors, medical professionals, and mental health providers to collaborate on cases. This coordinated response ensures that no child falls through the cracks.
Community & School Education
Prevention is key. RCAC offers age-appropriate programs in schools and community presentations to educate children, parents, and professionals on how to recognize, prevent, and report child abuse. We also use social media, like Facebook, to share safety tips, resources, and RCAC updates with the public.
A Safe Place for Healing
When children/teens and families enter our Child Advocacy Center, they feel like they are walking into a home, not an office. They are greeted with warm smiles from caring staff who welcome them to a place built just for them.
The first room the children enter is filled with stuffed animals, toys, and games for them to play with while they wait for their parent or caregiver to talk to our staff to begin the CAC process. The children will be interviewed in a comfortable and calming room by one person who will enable them to talk freely about themselves and about what may have happened to them.
Resource Library
Families and children receiving services at the RCAC are able to obtain educational, informational, and therapeutic materials from the RCAC’s Resource Library. There are books available for caregivers to help them better understand and deal with the abuse of their child or teen and books for adults who may have experienced sexual abuse as a child.
There are age-appropriate books and booklets for children and teens on body safety and other topics relevant to growing up in today’s society. There are also pamphlets and brochures on various child abuse related topics to educate and inform the public on how to protect children from abuse. Information is disseminated to the public through community events and presentations and is available from the Resource Library upon request.