Children’s advocacy centers (CACs) provide a safe, child-friendly environment where law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, medical and mental health professionals may share information and develop effective, coordinated strategies sensitive to the needs of each unique case and child.
Local CACs provide an array of child-focused services including:
Forensic Interviews
Forensic Interviews are designed to provide children the opportunity to disclose abuse to a neutral party in a child-friendly setting. Forensic interviewers are specially trained in the areas of child development, linguistics, civil and criminal offenses, child protection concerns, memory, suggestibility and disclosure. Read more.
Family Advocacy
Victim support and advocacy services are available to all CAC clients and their non-offending caregivers and family members. The focus of family advocacy and victim support is to help reduce additional trauma for the child and non-offending caregivers and family members and to improve outcomes. Read more.
Therapeutic Services
The Grayson County Children’s Advocacy Center offers trauma-focused therapy services to child victims and their non-offending caregivers. Therapy enables children who have been abused to develop a healthy self-image, learn to trust again, and identify ways to protect themselves from further victimization. Specially trained and licensed therapists work with child victims on complex issues stemming from their abuse such as trauma, shame, embarrassment, safety, and self-esteem. Read more.
Multidisciplinary Team Case Reviews & Joint Investigation Coordination
A multidisciplinary team (MDT) is the foundation of a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC). An MDT is a group of professionals from specific, distinct disciplines that collaborates from the point of report and throughout a child and family’s involvement with the CAC. The CAC is responsible for facilitating coordination between partner agencies as well as facilitating case review on an on going basis. Learn more about our team here.
Prevention & Education
Prevention and Education is a critical component of the work of the CAC. Education is vital in the prevention of child abuse. We approach education through two main portals: childhood education and adult education. Childhood education is pivotal to preventing child abuse. 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18. Children need the tools to handle this terrifying reality if we ever hope to change it. Learn more.