Child Advocacy Center (CAC)
Sexually abused children in La Plata, Archuleta, and San Juan counties need a safe place to find healing, justice, and hope.
CAC: Healing. Comforting. Empowering.
CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER
Child Advocacy Center: a collaborative program that focuses on helping children heal from abuse by streamlining services provided by law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, mental health, medical, and victim advocacy professionals, all in one location.
Sexually abused children in La Plata, Archuleta, and San Juan counties need a safe place to find healing, justice, and hope. A Child Advocacy Center can provide this space for these young, vulnerable souls while service providers focus on investigating abuse cases and holding offenders accountable. As one of only three areas in Colorado that does not have a Child Advocacy Center, 4 The Children is committed to making that change as soon as possible. It is our mission to protect childhood today for stronger families tomorrow, so we feel it is our responsibility to help to make the 6th Judicial District’s Child Advocacy Center a reality.
CAC: PLANTING SEEDS OF CHANGE, JUSTICE, AND HEALING
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT OVER 100 CHILD ASSAULT CASES GO UNREPORTED EACH YEAR IN OUR REGION
THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER WOULD STREAMLINE:
4 The Children Child Advocacy Center will be responsible for coordinating all child sexual abuse cases in La Plata, Archuleta, and San Juan counties working with and streamlining efforts of our community partners:
- La Plata + Archuleta counties: Department of Human Services
- All counties: sheriff + police departments
- District Attorney’s Office
- Mercy Regional Medical Center Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program
- Regional mental health providers
4 the Children’s Child Advocacy Center: a safe place to heal from a traumatic event.
Studies reveal that a child is more likely to share their experience when they feel physically and psychologically safe. By providing a single, comfortable location, the child can relay their story once with the entire team of compassionate child advocacy service providers, rather than retelling the traumatic event in multiple, unfamiliar locations.
VICTIM ADVOCACY
You have experienced a traumatic event, but who can you tell? Who will believe your story and listen with a compassionate ear? A victim’s advocate offers the reassurance that your story matters and is with you throughout the overwhelming process to help you find hope, justice and, ultimately, heal.
As soon as a case of child sexual assault has been reported, 4 The Children introduces each family to a victim’s advocate. As the heartbeat of the CAC program, the victim’s advocate offers a steady presence for the child and family, while they help schedule all services and provide any resources or support needed throughout an abuse process.
4 The Children hopes to raise funds to hire a Victims Advocate before January 2022. A percentage of CAC donations are allocated to fund a child advocate salary.
MEDICAL SERVICES
After a report of sexual assault on a child has been filed, the child and their family will be welcomed to the CAC by one of our carefully chosen victim advocates.
Once the child feels safe, a Mercy Regional Medical Center Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) will conduct a child-friendly, trauma-informed medical exam. These medical services are provided free of charge to the family.
4 The Children is responsible for compensation for contracted nurses; each exam costs roughly $500 and can take anywhere from 3-4 hours. Approximately $10K of equipment and materials are necessary to build and supply a CAC medical exam room.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
A child who has experienced sexual assault (or knows someone in the family victimized by sexual assault) experiences trauma that can lead to long-term mental health issues, if not properly addressed.
A carefully vetted, trained counselor will be appointed to the victim and the victim’s family, depending on the age and situation of the victim. These mental health services are provided for free, for as long as necessary, to anyone in the victim’s family by 4 The Children’s Child Advocacy Center.
4 The Children is responsible for compensation of contracted providers. Each session is
approximately $100 an hour.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE TEAM
LAW ENFORCEMENT • CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES • DA OFFICE
After a report of sexual assault on a child has been filed, the victim and their family will be welcomed to the CAC by one of our victim advocates.
A trauma-focused forensic interview will be conducted by a highly trained and certified team member. This interview will be observed on-site in a separate room by members of law enforcement, and child protective services. All information collected will be turned over to the proper authorities, including the District Attorney’s office, who will pursue justice for the perpetrator, the potential victims, and their families.
4 The Children is responsible for all costs associated with this process. An average case can range between $500 and $1000. 4 The Children could experience one sexual abuse case per week.
Your Donation Makes This Possible.
The seamless services offered by 4 the Children’s Child Advocacy Center are not possible without your support.
While our SEPT and CASA programs are already nationally and state accredited programs, 4 The Children is in the process of applying for the CAC’s national accreditation, which can take up to three years. Currently, 4 The Children is in a two-year VOCA Victim’s Grants cycle, and will be eligible for more funding after this expires in 2023.
WHY YOUR FUNDS ARE NEEDED NOW AND HOW THEY’LL BE SPENT
With accreditation comes government funding. But until the CAC receives accreditation, 4 The Children needs your donations to help launch our much-needed Child Advocacy Center and to ensure the success of our current programs.
