A Child Advocacy Center (CAC) builds upon the multidisciplinary team approach by providing a non-threatening, child-focused environment where investigations, evaluations, treatment, and prosecution of child sexual abuse cases can be conducted by team members and where appropriate supportive services to victims and their non-offending family members can be provided. Both the National Children's Alliance (NCA) and the New York State of Children and Family Services (OCFS) provide a framework of standards for developing and established Child Advocacy Centers.

These standards address the needs of a CAC in the following areas:

	Child-friendly location
	Multidisciplinary team components
	Organizational capacity
	Cultural competency
	Forensic interviews
	Medical evaluation
	Therapeutic intervention
	Victim support and advocacy
	Case review
	Case tracking

Upon careful review and assessment, both NCA and OCFS have a separate approval process of membership for a Child Advocacy Center. For NCA, membership is divided into Accredited and Associate members. For OCFS, membership is divided into Tier I, II, and III members.

More Information

List of New York State Child Advocacy Centers by NCA membership

List of New York State Child Advocacy Centers by OCFS membership