- Overview
- Programs and Funding
- Research and Evaluation
- Training and Technical Assistance
- Contacts
- Resources
Overview
Children's Advocacy Centers coordinate the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases by utilizing multidisciplinary teams of professionals involved in child protective and victim advocacy services, law enforcement and prosecution, and physical and mental health.
Children's Advocacy Centers must include the following components:
- Child-appropriate facility.
- Multidisciplinary team.
- Designated legal entity responsible for program and fiscal operations.
- Culturally competent policies and practices.
- Forensic interviews conducted in an objective, nonduplicative manner.
- Medical evaluation and treatment.
- Therapeutic intervention.
- Victim support/advocacy.
- Case review and tracking.
Four regional centers provide consultation and training and technical assistance services to communities that are developing local centers and also services to strengthen existing centers. The regional centers work cooperatively with the National Children's Alliance, which provides national leadership and advocacy for local centers. The Alliance also provides training, technical assistance, and networking opportunities to communities that are planning, establishing, or improving local centers.
Midwest Regional Children's Advocacy Center
Mark Hudson, M.D.
Executive Director
Northeast Regional Children's Advocacy Center
Benita Williams, MSW, LSW
Executive Director
Southern Regional Children's Advocacy Center
Chris Newlin
Executive Director
Western Regional Children's Advocacy Center
Lisa Conradi, Psy.D
Executive Director
The National Children's Advocacy Center, dedicated to developing and researching best practice models, provides education, training and professional services to promote excellence in child abuse response and prevention.
The Native Child Advocacy Resource Center (NCARC) promotes the expansion and enhancement of accredited Child Advocacy Centers serving American Indian and Alaska Native children, families, and communities.
Native Child Advocacy Resource Center
Maegan Rides At the Door
Executive Director, PhD, LCPC
[email protected]
406-243-2644
Programs and Funding
Each year, the National Children's Alliance releases its request for proposals to provide monetary subgrants to existing and developing Children's Advocacy Centers. Applications and information are available on the National Children's Alliance website.
Research and Evaluation
The National Institute of Justice has published a resource book to assist administrators of Children's Advocacy Centers in program evaluation.
Training and Technical Assistance
The four regional centers provide training and technical assistance to existing and developing center programs. The National Children's Advocacy Center and the National Children's Alliance also provide training and technical assistance.
Resources
OJJDP Publication(s)
Beyond Case Review: The Value of the Role of Team Facilitator in the Multidisciplinary Team/Children's Advocacy Center Model
OJJDP-Sponsored, September 2021. This paper is a culmination of the collective expertise of the four Regional Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) and their over 20-year history providing training and technical assistance to multidisciplinary teams and CACs across the country. In addition, the authors sought out additional data, research, and frameworks both within and outside of the CAC movement. NCJ 304305.
PDF
In Focus: Children's Advocacy Centers
OJJDP-Produced, January 2024. This In Focus brief details the important work of children's advocacy centers and their multidisciplinary teams of child abuse prevention and intervention professionals. NCJ 254817.
PDF
Child Physical Abuse: A Guide to the CAC Response
OJJDP-Sponsored, April 2018. The National Children's Alliance convened a workgroup on CACs delivering evidence-based interventions to meet the specific needs of physical abuse victims, and this guide presents their considerations, tips, and resources. NCJ 251753.
PDF
Healing, Justice, and Trust: A National Report on Outcomes for Children's Advocacy Centers
OJJDP-Sponsored. 2016. This report details the role of Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) and the Outcome Measurement System (OMS) that help CACs evaluate their programs to increase the quality of services provided to children and families and improve the collaborative efforts of multidisciplinary team members. 12 pages. NCJ 250688.
PDF
National Children's Alliance Annual Report 2019
OJJDP-Sponsored, April 2020. National Children's Alliance (NCA) is the national association and accrediting body for a network of 881 Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs). This is the 2019 Annual Report on the activities of the NCA, which is a national network of CACs with a common mission to protect all children and prevent child abuse. NCJ 254771. 28 pages.
PDF
Other Resources
National Children's Alliance
Provides training, technical assistance, publications, statutes, links, and networking opportunities to communities seeking to plan, establish, and improve Children's Advocacy Centers.
National Children's Advocacy Center
Provides training, prevention, intervention and treatment services to fight child abuse and neglect and research on NCAC models and other child abuse issues.