Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center - Training and Technical Assistance

The Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center (NRCAC), a project of the Philadelphia Children's Alliance (PCA), serves the nine (9) states in the northeast federal census region. As a regional grant recipient, NRCAC will deliver trainings and technical assistance (TTA) to Multi-disciplinary Teams (MDTs), Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs), and state chapter organizations through coordinated strategies for the purpose of improving the nation’s response to child abuse and neglect. Its focus is on developing new MDT responses, strengthening existing CAC responses to the investigation and prosecution of child abuse. NRCAC works closely with state chapter organizations to develop and strengthen their capacity to deliver TTA for the development and expansion of MDTs and CACs in their states.

Building on the development, distribution and collection of data from a national Chapter Needs Assessment, NRCAC, in collaboration with the other RCACs and the Tribal CAC TTA provider, will establish a process for regular assessment of needs nationally and create a joint plan for a coordinated system of delivering TTA to be reviewed and revised annually.

NRCAC will continue to develop and expand resources such as TTA curricula, publications, podcasts and other sources of information sharing to address the trends and emerging needs of the northeast and nationally through collaboration with RCAC and VOCAA partners.

Through lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities for participants to gain skills and knowledge was successfully maintained through virtual means resulting in reach and efficiency increasing tremendously. With the ability to travel returning, NRCAC recognizes the advantages of using a hybrid model of delivery to provide more options to participants, thus increasing attendance and allowing resources to stretch further.

Leadership development opportunities to support CACs, MDT Facilitators and state chapters will continue to be offered through collaboration of all the RCACs.

NRCAC recognizes the critical importance of ensuring racial equity and access to CAC services. By offering access to experts in intersectional identity issues opportunities to increase awareness and understanding will be afforded and prioritized to state chapters, CACs and MDTs. NRCAC is committed to increasing efforts to identify and be inclusive of communities identified as underserved and historically marginalized.

NRCAC will participate regularly in the implementation and review of a collaborative national VOCAA partner strategic plan for the purpose of aligning efforts, maximizing resources and defining clear roles and responsibilities. Such collaborative efforts will facilitate shared knowledge and resources effectively and efficiently.