A Child Advocacy Center (CAC) builds upon the multidisciplinary team approach to child sexual abuse by providing a non-threatening, child-focused environment where investigations, treatment and prosecution of child sexual abuse cases can be conducted by team members and where appropriate supportive services to victims and their families can be provided.

The multidisciplinary team approach brings together all the professionals and agencies involved in the intervention of child sexual abuse cases. The core team agencies include: child protective services, law enforcement agencies, prosecution, and medical providers. Other essential members include: mental health providers, Safe Horizon and rape crisis providers, schools and probation.

A CAC provides a centralized and neutral location with the necessary facilities, to allow:

	Team members to meet to discuss the investigation, treatment and prosecution of cases,
	Team members to effectively conduct joint interviews of child and family,
	Team members to work together to prevent further victimization of children, and
	The child victim and non-offending family to remain in one safe, secure and friendly location to be interviewed and receive support services.

CAC Organizational Structure/Sponsorship

	CAC's designed as independent non-profit agencies; or
	CAC's affiliated with a host agency; such as social services, law enforcement, prosecution, medical, or a mental health agency.

In addition, a CAC can be a facility where:

	All agencies come to meet and conduct team activities, or
	Where representatives of each agency are co-located.

Each of these structures has its benefits and challenges as well as implications for collaboration, planning, governance, community partnerships and resource development. The ultimate CAC structure must be agreeable to all entities and be one in which all assume equal ownership. Successful CACs are custom-designed to best meet the unique needs of the community in which it is located.

CAC Program Components/Minimum Standards

	Designated Neutral Facility
	Multidisciplinary Case Review
	Joint Investigations/Interviews
	Provision for Medical Examination and Evaluation
	Provision for Mental Health Treatment
	Case Tracking

CACs may also have:

	Victim Advocate/Support Services
	Specialized Training
	Community Education

The National Children's Alliance (NCA) has established the following minimum standards to be considered for full membership in its organization and to be eligible for its funding opportunities. A CAC must:

	Be an incorporated, private non-profit or government-based agency.
	Have a designated child-appropriate facility where all involved agencies have a place to interact with the child to conduct investigative interviews and other collaborative activities in order to coordinate their services in cases of suspected child abuse.
	If volunteers are involved in the program, have screening procedures that comply with state laws and provide adequate training and supervision.
	Have a Multidisciplinary Case Review that meets on a regularly scheduled basis or as the caseload of the community requires.
	Provide case tracking of child abuse cases seen through the agency.
	Provide on-site or referrals for medical exams and mental health therapy.
	Provide training for staff working in the program and for the various disciplines in the community that deal with child abuse.
	Have malpractice insurance and/or liability insurance for the facility staff, volunteers and clients, when appropriate.
	Have written policies and procedures which should include: staff screening, safety, confidentiality, client records, intake, investigation, therapy and child abuse reporting.

To the Investigation and Prosecution of Child Abuse Cases:

	More immediate follow-up to child abuse reports.
	Allegations of abuse are more completely investigated, producing more usable information.
	Coordinated investigations result in more effective prosecutions.
	Information on the status of cases is shared, allowing their progress to be monitored and minimizing the possibility of cases "falling between the cracks."

To the Child Victim and Family:
The trauma experienced by abused children is reduced, by:

	Reducing the number of child victim interviews.
	Receiving prompt and ongoing services that are tailored to their specific needs and family situations, and ensures their protection.
	Empowering non-offending parents to protect and support their children throughout the intervention process and beyond.
	Providing more efficient medical and mental health services or referrals.

To the Staff of the Participating Agencies:

	Through enhanced communication with team members, each discipline is able to make better and informed decisions.
	Professionals interact regularly providing each other needed support and reducing burnout.
	Professionals gain a better understanding of and respect for each other's roles and expertise.
	Professionals receive specialized training through formal learning opportunities and are thus better able to meet the needs of abused children and their families.
	Coordinated investigations lead to more efficient use of each agency's resources and staff time.

To the Community:

	The community is better educated about the problem of child abuse and the needs of abused children and their families.
	Communities are better able to identify gaps in the system and are challenged to develop more resources for children and families.

Adapted from Best Practices, Second Edition, National Network of Children's Advocacy Centers, 1994.