Child Advocacy Centers
WHAT IS A CAC?
Children’s Advocacy Centers create a central location for children & families to receive comprehensive services. The centers encourage & support coordinated case review & investigations, while offering a safe, child-friendly space for children & non-offending caregivers to come & meet with law enforcement, Department of Social Services, & CAC Staff.
Forensic Interviews
CAC Forensic Interviewers
conduct interviews at the CAC to gather information from the child in a neutral, fact finding nature & to prevent the child from having to talk about their experience more than once. MDT investigative partners observe the interview in a separate room.
Family Advocacy
CAC Family Advocates
provide support & education to caregivers by meeting during the forensic interview, through follow up contact, & linking families to needed services. In addition, Family Advocates complete screenings for trauma symptoms and for further assessment when kids express feelings of self-harm.
Trauma-Focused Treatment
Trauma-Focused Treatment (TFT) Clinicians
provide evidence based & evidence informed therapy services for children ages 3 & up. CAC Therapists also offer support groups/workshops for caregivers throughout
the year. Treatment services are provided in person and via telehealth at no cost to caregivers.
Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) Facilitation
CAC MDT Facilitators
are responsible for leading and coordinating a team of professionals from various disciplines, like medical experts, social workers, and law enforcement. They facilitate communication and collaboration to effectively investigate and support child abuse cases.
Forensic Interviews
CAC Forensic Interviewers
conduct interviews at the CAC to gather information from the child in a neutral, fact finding nature & to prevent the child from having to talk about their experience more than once. MDT investigative partners observe the interview in a separate room.
Family Advocacy
CAC Family Advocates
provide support & education to caregivers by meeting during the forensic interview, through follow up contact, & linking families to needed services. In addition, Family Advocates complete screenings for trauma symptoms and for further assessment when kids express feelings of self-harm.
Trauma-Focused Treatment
Trauma-Focused Treatment (TFT) Clinicians
provide evidence based & evidence informed therapy services for children ages 3 & up. CAC Therapists also offer support groups/workshops for caregivers throughout
the year. Treatment services are provided in person and via telehealth at no cost to caregivers.
Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) Facilitation
CAC MDT Facilitators
are responsible for leading and coordinating a team of professionals from various disciplines, like medical experts, social workers, and law enforcement. They facilitate communication and collaboration to effectively investigate and support child abuse cases.
SCAN’s Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) help children who have experienced a potentially traumatizing event (such as sexual abuse, physical abuse and exposure to violence). Our goals are to provide a safe space for children to be interviewed, reduce the number of times a child is interviewed, provide assistance and support to caregivers and to provide therapy to help with healing after exposure to traumatic events. SCAN’s CAC Program opened in 2004 and is accredited through the National Children’s Alliance.
The Greater Richmond CAC works with the following jurisdictions: City of Richmond, Charles City, Cumberland County, Goochland County, Henrico County, New Kent County, Hanover County, City of Petersburg, King William County, and Prince George County. These jurisdictions work together in Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs) to enhance communication throughout the investigation and to work for the best interest of the child.
