Child Advocacy Center Program

Child 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.

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.