Child Advocacy Center Services we offer:
The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) provides children an opportunity to heal from abuse by reducing trauma in a neutral family friendly location. To better understand our CAC, it is best to think about our community without a CAC where a child may end up having to tell multiple professionals about the abuse they are experiencing and where medical services are only available out of Medina County. The graphic above shows with a CAC and without a CAC.
At the CAC, the child tells their story once to a specially trained interviewer who knows the developmentally appropriate questions to ask in a way that does not further traumatize or retraumatize the child. Then, a team that includes medical professionals, law enforcement, mental health, prosecution, child protective services, victim advocacy, and other professionals make decisions together about how to help the child based on the interview.
The CAC coordinates a Multi-disciplinary team (MDT) response to allegations of sexual and physical abuse of children in Medina County. Our response puts the child at the center of the investigation and assures support and resources needed for healing are available.
FORENSIC INTERVIEWS:
Our forensic interviewer conducts specialized interviews of children who report abuse. The goal of the forensic interview is to gather pertinent information from the child in a neutral, non-leading, and developmentally sensitive manner to determine the child’s safety.
FAMILY ADVOCACY:
As each case goes through the investigation, prosecution, and healing process, the Family Advocate is there to help the family understand the process, learn about their rights as victims, and successfully access resources.
MEDICAL EVALUATIONS:
A complete physical evaluation is conducted by a nurse practitioner who has special training in child abuse. The medical evaluation ensures the health and safety of the child and potentially identifies any evidence of sexual or physical abuse.
MENTAL HEALTH REFERRALS:
The Center provides mental health referrals to all victims and their families.
Resources
Victim Information and Notification Everyday (Vine)
VINE is a program providing users with the ability to search for information about an offender’s custody status. Learn More
https://vinelink.vineapps.com/search/OH
Victims’ Compensation
Ohio’s Victim of Crime Compensation program reimburses crime victims. Learn More
https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Individuals-and-Families/Victims/Apply-for-Victims-Compensation
Crime Victim Rights
The toolkit is a self-help legal resource that allows Ohio’s State and Federal Crime Victims to understand and exercise their rights. Learn More
https://victimsrightstoolkit.org/
National Children’s Alliance
National Children’s Alliance is a professional membership organization dedicated to helping local communities respond to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient – and put the needs of child victims first. Learn More
https://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/
Ohio Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers
We are a movement made up of 26 accredited and over 14 developing local children’s advocacy centers (CACs) serving children throughout Ohio and the local professionals investigating and treating child sexual abuse. Learn More.