What is a Children's Advocacy Center?

A Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is a safe and child-focused place that helps children and their non-offending caregivers when a child may have experienced sexual abuse. At a CAC, a group of people from different agencies and services work together as a team to help the child. While at the CAC, the child will speak with an interviewer. Their family member(s) will meet with a Family Advocate to help the family work through what is happening. Referrals will be made to therapists, doctors, and to other services that the child and their family needs.

Who refers to the CAC?

Law enforcement, Child Protective Services, and the District Attorney’s Office are the only ones who can make referrals to the CAC. Parents, caregivers, or other professionals cannot make referrals to the CAC. Instead, they should make a mandated report to the Department of Health and Human Services Child Abuse Hotline or their local District Attorney’s Office.

I appreciated how kind the staff was & how comfortable they made my son & me feel."
                     -CAC Client

What happens at the CAC?