The Child Advocacy Center, Inc.

Together, We Can Make a Difference

ABOUT OUR CENTER

Once upon a time, a child who was a victim of abuse was often unknowingly revictimized by the agencies and people who were supposed to help.

Professionals from the child protection, investigative, legal and medical systems would interview the child seperately and repeatedly in police stations and other environments designed for adults. Many times, these interviews were done solely to meet the diverse and sometimes conflicting requirements of the agencies involved, rather than the needs of the child. Successful prosecution was rare and the victim seldom received the support and services needed.

In the mid-1980's, a number of communities recognized the need for a different way to address the problem of child abuse. These communities began coordinating programs to investigate, prosecute and treat abuse; programs that were child-focused and child-friendly.  

In 1995, a small group of professionals and community volunteers met to consider a better, more sensitive way to respond to children in Southwest Missouri who were suspected victims of sexual or physical abuse. They wanted to give children a safe, easy place to talk about difficult, frightening things.

The Child Advocacy Center is a place where a comprehensive, coordinated approach is taken in response to allegations of child abuse. Children who may have been abused or who are witnesses to violent crime, are referred to our Center by the Juvenile Office, Children's Division, or Law Enforcement for a digitally recorded forensic interview, C.A.R.E. and/or S.A.F.E.

At the CAC, specially trained forensic interviewers, investigators, law enforcement and medical personnel form a team to make decisions about investigation, treatment and prosecution of child abuse cases. This approach proposes that children receive child-focused services in a child-friendly enviornment--one in which the child's needs come first.

GOALS

To provide a community based setting for the skilled and objective evaluation of children identified as possible victims of child abuse.

To allow collaboration among agencies and professionals mandated to intervene in child abuse cases.

To minimize the possibility of redundent interviewing by facilitating interagency cooperation.

To provide appropriate crisis intervention and referrals for children as needed.

To serve the community by supporting various education, training, treatment, reseach, and prevention efforts addressing child abuse.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM

The Child Advocacy Center strives to assist members of our multidisciplinary team, which may include representatives from Children's Division, law enforcement,mental and medical health professionals, as well as other local and state agencies.  We strongly believe the coordination and communication between these disciplines make an investigation less traumatizing for child victims and their families.  Multidisciplinary team members meet prior to investigations to review case-specific issues.  Following the CAC appointment, team members meet with caregivers to answer questions and concerns regarding the investigation as well as provide information regarding appropriate referral resources. Furthermore, the CAC serves as a resource to multidisciplinary team members through coordination of case reviews.

Statistics

Child Advocacy Center, Inc.
Record of Growth
2001-2007

	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Number of Children Seen	774	801	668	706	765	746	803
Forensic Safe Exams	512	543	364	369	423	424	461
Forensic Interviews	654	658	591	642	706	673	746
Total Number of Services	1166	1201	955	1011	955	1097	1207

 

*The Springfield CAC Serves 18 counties in the Southwest Missouri Area.

 

Springfield Child Advocacy Center

2007 Fast Facts
January 1 – December 31

803 Children Seen
746 Forensic Interviews
461 Sexual Assault Forensic Exams
18 CARE exams

OFFENSE:
88% - Sexual Abuse
15% - Physical Abuse
21% - Witness to Crime
3% - Neglect
10% - Drug Endangered
10% - Child Explotiation

GENDER:
67% - Female
33% - Male

ETHNICITY:
92% - Caucasian
4% - African American
2% - Hispanic
2% - Other

AGE:
42% - Age 6 and under
38% - Age 7-12
20% - Age 13-18+

| HOME |

|ABOUT OUR CENTER | S.A.F.E | C.A.R.E|FORENSIC INTERVIEW

| HOW TO GET INVOLVED| CONTACT US |

If you suspect child abuse or neglect call:
1-800-392-3738

Click here to e-mail The Child Advocacy Center!