Children & Teens

Forensic Interviews
Forensic interviews are non-duplicative, non-leading neutral interviews with the victim conducted by investigative team members. Interviews are held at the center in a specially designed room which allows for observation by other members of the multidisciplinary team. Using best practices for interviewing, the victim recounts their experience just once, reducing potential for further trauma. In order for a child to be interviewed a call must be made to law enforcement or the Department of Social Services.

Family Advocacy
Family Advocacy is a free service provided to all child victims and their families. The Family Advocates assist family members through the duration of their case including the investigation, prosecution and recovery processes. The advocates assist with filing a NYS Crime Victims Application for any one who has been the victim of a crime. This application can provide monetary reimbursement to families to cover necessary services. Family Advocates collaborate with all multidisciplinary team members and act as liaisons between the team members and families.

Mental Health Services
The Victim Intervention Mental Health Counseling Program at the Child Advocacy Center provides individual, group and family therapy to child victims of physical and sexual abuse, child witnesses to violence, and children who are drug endangered or severely neglected/maltreated. The program employs credentialed and Licensed Mental Health Professionals, who have received specialized training in treating children who have survived a traumatic experience.

Case Management
Case Management services are specially designed to assist victims with the aftermath of a child abuse disclosure. If families experience medical difficulties, housing disruptions, transportation problems or other crises, our Case Manager can help them problem-solve their challenges and empower them to rebuild their lives.  

Outreach and Prevention Trainings
Preventing child abuse from ever occurring is a lofty and valiant goal of the CAC. Darkness to Light Stewards of Children, Safe Harbour trainings for the awareness and prevention of commercial sexual exploitation of children and human trafficking, to include online prevention activities, and Child Fatality Prevention Outreach are all components of the Outreach and Prevention program.