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Children’s Advocacy Center Program
The Multi-disciplinary Team Approach
The predominant approach to child abuse investigations at
Children’s Advocacy Center is the multi-disciplinary team
model. This approach supports enhanced communications between the
various agencies that respond to allegations of child abuse, especially
sexual and severe physical abuse.
This coordinated community response plays a vital role in the
successful protection and prosecution of child victims of abuse.
The coordination of law enforcement, child protective services, mental
and medical health providers and victim advocates laid the foundation
for the minimizing of trauma for children and their families throughout
the investigation process.
From The Child’s Perspective
When children enter the CACCT building you can tell immediately by
their reaction that they may be feeling an immediate sense of warmth,
security, and intrigue as they enter into our child friendly spacious
lobby and are welcomed by our gracious family greeter. The
brightly vaulted ceiling with the brightly painted clouds and
countryside on the walls and a separate picket fenced area provides a
little playhouse and a fun atmosphere for the children to explore and
appears to offer a sense of comfort to those children coming to recount
the trauma of their abuse.
Our family greeter welcomes the child and their family offering them
refreshments and encouraging the children to explore, play and
relax. A family advocate reviews the process with the family
member and offers literature to assist the care giver in understanding
and helping their child to overcome the trauma that they may have been
exposed to.
A trained forensic interviewer soon joins the child and introduces them
to the extended surroundings which includes one of the two available
interviewing rooms, which are also child friendly. The
interviewer explains the process and informs the child that the
videotaping of the interview will hopefully minimize the number of
times a child has to tell of the traumatic events that may have taken
place in their life.
Down the hall from the interview room is an observation room where
professionals from law enforcement, Child Protective Services, the
District Attorney’s Office Prosecutors, and the Sexual Assault
Nurse Examiner may observe the interview. Prior to the conclusion
of the forensic interview, the interviewer checks with the
professionals to ensure that all pertinent questions have been asked,
minimizing the number of interviews, and hopefully the trauma, a child
must endure.
Efforts to assist and minimize any trauma of the interview process are made
after the interview as well. The family member(s) has the
opportunity to talk with law enforcement and Child Protective Services
in our private, serene family room. The family advocate provides
the family with counseling referrals and, if appropriate, may schedule
sexual assault exams with Scott and White Hospital.
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