Prevention at Children’s Advocacy Centers: The Care Process Model for Pediatric Traumatic Stress (CPM-PTS)
April 23, 2026
By Lindsay Abdulahad, Ph.D.; LCSW. Shannon Chaplo, Ph.D.; Porcia Vaughn, MSIS; and Brooks Keeshin, M.D.
Pediatric Integrated Post-trauma Services (PIPS)
As we celebrate National Child Abuse Prevention Month, it is important to acknowledge that prevention is not only about stopping something before it starts. Prevention is also about recognizing risk early and acting quickly to change the outcome.
Among school-aged children presenting to Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) for forensic interviews, 8 out of 10 report trauma exposure, 4 report thoughts of suicide or self-harm, and 5 experience high levels of traumatic stress. These numbers are alarming, but also present a critical window of opportunity. By identifying concerns early, CAC staff can intervene before symptoms escalate into more severe safety issues, mental health challenges, or long-term negative health and mental health outcomes.
National Children’s Alliance victim advocacy and mental health standards encourage an important role for mental health screening at CACs that can help children and families better connect to evidence-based assessment and treatment for trauma. In alignment with these NCA standards, The Care Process Model for Pediatric Traumatic Stress (CPM-PTS) is a specific tool that can be used at CACs by clinician and non-clinician advocates to quickly identify trauma-related concerns, and connect children and families with critical support. Typically administered at CACs to children ages 5-18 during their visit for a forensic interview, the Care Process Model uses a brief, validated 15-item screening tool to identify symptoms of traumatic stress and suicidality.
The Care Process Model is more than a screening tool. The model provides clear, structured guidance that helps advocates engage children and caregivers in supportive conversations, assess safety and suicide risk, and determine appropriate referrals.
When addressing safety concerns and suicide risk, advocates may help create a safety plan, engage additional supports, or connect the child to urgent mental health services. Identifying safety and suicide risk early and linking children to appropriate care helps prevent escalation to more dangerous or lethal crises.
When addressing mental health concerns, the Care Process Model prioritizes connection to evidence-based trauma assessment and treatment, which can reduce the long-term impacts of trauma and lower the risk of chronic mental health conditions.
Within the Care Process Model, CAC advocates also provide trauma education and teach families symptom management tools they can use right away to target sleep concerns, intrusive thoughts and distress, or avoidance and negative mood. These small, early interventions can prevent the progression of distress and build resilience over time.
From an evaluation of the Care Process Model in 16 CACs in the Mountain West with nearly 2,400 children 5-18 years old, 7% received a new CPS report, 25% received suicide risk assessment via the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, 76% received a new treatment referral for community or evidence-based trauma resources, 44% were specifically referred to trauma evidence-based treatment providers, and 66% were taught a skill to help manage their traumatic stress.
Equipping children and families with support, skills, clear plans for safety, and connection to evidence-based trauma assessment and treatment are preventative measures suited to CACs and the children and families they serve. This month as we celebrate National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we can also celebrate the prevention efforts of NCA and CACs to change the course of trauma.
__________________________________________________________
To learn more about the Care Process Model, visit https://learn.nationalchildrensalliance.org/care-process-model and https://utahpips.org/cpm/
For training in the Care Process Model: 1. Sign up for a live training with NCA and 2. Complete the required pre-training accessible from https://utahpips.org/cpm/
