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.

The child is given the opportunity to select a blanket and teddy bear from the awesome donations given for this exact purpose.   As the child leaves the center they feel safe and empowered for doing the right thing and standing up for what they know is wrong.  The child knows now that they have a team of people working to keep them safe.