What is the Child Advocacy Center (CAC)?  The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) is a child-friendly place where a multi-disciplinary team of community professionals join hands to care for abused children.  The CAC can decrease the overall impact of abuse by reducing further victimization to abused children; by increasing the number of successful prosecutions of perpetrators; by encouraging parents and caregivers to stop abusive and neglectful behaviors; by reducing the long-term costs to society; and by decreasing the number of child abuse victims through awareness and prevention education.

In fiscal year 2008-2009, the Child Advocacy Center served 468 child victims of abuse and their families. In addition, we have provided training for the general public and for professionals on how to prevent child abuse and on how best to serve children when it does occur. Our coordinating efforts among our 19 partner agencies saved the community an estimated $500,000.

The CAC also offers a resource library with a variety of information and literature and provides these materials to the community free of charge.  However, as a non-profit agency that depends on grants and individual donations to offer our services, tax-deductible financial gifts and in-kind donations are greatly appreciated.  All donors and partners are provided with tax receipts and are publicly recognized through a variety of methods including website, newsletter, media campaigns, etc…

The Child Advocacy Center, Inc. (CAC) was founded in 1993 when concerned citizens in Cumberland County (CC) who work with the victims of child abuse knew that those children were not being treated in the best manner available. They determined the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) approach to be the most effective. The CAC became an Accredited Member of the National Children's Alliance (governing board of child advocacy centers) in 2003 and was reaccredited in 2009.


Services the Child Advocacy Center Provides

The CAC:

  • Is a place where children & families receive comprehensive services. It is a place where children are listened to, respected and can tell their experience only once.

  • Assists and nurtures the MDT process by developing and coordinating on going professional education for the members of our team.

  • Is open at no charge to all residents of CC, including Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base.

  • Is available to investigators for interviews 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • Brings together representatives from CC Dept of Social Service's Child Protective Services; CC Sheriff's Office; Fayetteville Police Department; Hope Mills Police Department; Spring Lake Police Department; the medical community via Southern Regional Area Health Education Center, Cape Fear Valley Health Systems and Womack Army Medical Center; CC District Attorney's Office; Guardian ad Litem; and Rape Crisis Volunteers of CC.

  • Hosts a weekly case review session where approximately 10 cases are reviewed.

  • Provides Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention information for the community.

  • Provides Continuing Education opportunities for our MDT members and other professionals in our community. These training opportunities are usually provided at no cost to the attendees.

The Child Advocacy Center works to help child victims of abuse become children again.


To explain how the CAC process works, here is a scenario of what occurs in a child sexual abuse case.  This could be based on a true story, but the names here are made up.

 

Billy and his mom, Sue, went to the Child Advocacy Center (CAC).  They were nervous because Billy would be talking about something that happened to him. The Victim/Family Advocate (VFA) met the family at the door and introduced herself.  After talking with the VFA, Billy began to feel more comfortable. When he went into the playroom, he began to relax.  The room was very friendly and colorful. The VFA spoke with Sue while Billy played and explained what was going to happen that day and who would be meeting with her and speaking with Billy.

 

A social worker from Child Protective Services of the Department of Social Services and a detective came into the playroom. The social worker took Billy to an interview room and began the interview.  It was hard for Billy to talk about the things his Uncle Joe had done to him. As the interview progressed, the detective watched from another room where the interview was being video-taped. Billy described how Uncle Joe had begun showing him cool ways to play basketball, but eventually, Uncle Joe began touching him and doing things that made him uncomfortable. While Billy was in the interview, the VFA spoke with Sue. The VFA made sure that the family's basic needs were being met and discussed Sue's concerns and fears. The VFA explains what the CAC’s Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) is, how it works to coordinate investigations of child abuse and how it functions. Sue was able to ask any question she had at the time and was given contact information for the VFA so she could get further services as needed.

 

When the interview ended the social worker thanked Billy for coming to the CAC and speaking with them.  Billy then went back to the playroom. After the interview, it was determined that a medical exam was needed for Billy.  The VFA provided Sue with a brochure explaining the medical process and gave her directions to the doctor's office.

 

Later, the MDT met to review their notes on Billy’s case.  It was determined that Uncle Joe had abused Billy. The MDT recommended therapy for Billy and Sue to help them deal with this trauma. The detective arrested Uncle Joe.

 

The VFA continued contact with the family until the case was taken to trial. Uncle Joe was sentenced to prison for abusing Billy.