A Guide to the CAC Response Despite the fact that CACs serve many more victims of child sexual abuse than they do victims of child physical abuse (CPA), federal data show that physical abuse is far more common, potentially indicating that CACs without a specialized response to physical abuse may be unequipped to serve a… Continue Reading
In Australia, Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) have been raised as a way to improve responses to child abuse based on the demonstrated benefits of this approach in the United States. However, there are some important differences between jurisdictions in the U.S. and Australia that need to be considered in adapting the approach. For one, many… Continue Reading
The American Counseling Association’s Traumatology Interest Network (2014) defines vicarious trauma as “the emotional residue from hearing other people’s trauma stories and becoming witness to the pain, fear, and terror the trauma survivor endured” (Network, 2014). Being witness to another’s pain can cause us to see the world differently. Individuals working with, and hearing the… Continue Reading
At 10 a.m., on July 12, 2016, I was given the chance to use my voice against something that has kept me silent for years. I testified against my grandfather, who took from me my innocence, dignity, and hope. On the stand that day, I wore several pieces of jewelry I received from victims, who endured… Continue Reading
Teresa Huizar, National Expert on Child Abuse Intervention and Trauma Treatment Teresa Huizar (pron. WEE-zar) is executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based National Children’s Alliance. She has served at every level in the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) movement, beginning her career in 1993 at a CAC in Colorado developing psychoeducation curricula. She has subsequently served… Continue Reading
When grandparents raise their grandchildren, there is a new word for it. It’s called a “grandfamily.” And the number of grandfamilies is on the rise—up over 30% in recent years. According to the latest census, 8% of children in Blount County, Ala., (where we operate our Children’s Advocacy Center, the Blount County Children’s Center) are being raised by… Continue Reading
Healing, Justice, & Trust: How CACs prove (and improve) their work Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) provide children and families with healing and justice in a setting they can trust. We know they do because of more than 70,000 survey responses we collect each year from our caregivers and partners. NCA’s Outcome Measurement System (OMS) helps… Continue Reading
References for Evidence-Based Mental Health Treatments for Child Abuse Victims Swiecicki, C. C., Portnoy, E. F., Brown, E. J. (2011, July). Disseminating Trauma-Specific Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Child Advocacy Centers (CACs): Characteristics of children treated, preliminary outcomes, and modifications for CACs. Symposium presented at the annual colloquium of the American Professional Society on the Abuse… Continue Reading
A Special Thank You “It is only with the generous support of our donors and Partners that NCA is able to accomplish our mission, address emerging needs and opportunities, and launch new initiatives. NCA is deeply grateful to the individuals, businesses and institutions that have chosen to make an investment in our important work.” —Teresa… Continue Reading
References for Children’s Advocacy Centers: Helping children heal from abuse while holding offenders accountable – National Children’s Alliance Policy Brief iLalayants, M., & Epstein, I. (2005). Evaluating multidisciplinary child abuse and neglect teams: a research agenda. Child Welfare, 84 (4): 433-58. iiKolbo, J. & Strong, E., (1997) Multidisciplinary team approaches to the investigation and resolution… Continue Reading