For families whose children are impacted by abuse, navigating relevant systems can be daunting. A child might be asked to share their experience with a first responder, a detective, a doctor, a therapist, child protective, a prosecutor, a judge, and more.

In the 1980s a multidisciplinary team approach was developed. Today there are over 800 nationally accredited Children’s Advocacy Centers in the United States.

Children’s Advocacy Centers, within an empowerment model for families, are at the core of coordinating the investigation, treatment and prosecution of child abuse cases. A multidisciplinary team of professionals — including child protective services, law enforcement, prosecution, mental health services, physical health services, and victim advocacy services — all work collaboratively to reduce the impact and trauma that a child and family might experience following a disclosure of abuse.

Under the CAC model law enforcement, child protective services or the district attorney’s office make a referral to an advocacy center to schedule a forensic interview at the time of an outcry of abuse. The CAC space and efforts serve as a neutral, trauma-informed, evidence-based and forensically-sound dwelling for families to speak their truth and receive support.

To conduct a forensic interview at the CAC there must be both the forensic interviewer and a family advocate present. Within the CAC model, the family advocate is a vital role in the success of the program. The family advocate is often the first and last impression that families and partners will get of the advocacy center.

The family advocate role is very multi-faceted and includes the detailed pieces of the role, encompassing both the administrative portion of the work while simultaneously doing all aspects of providing trauma-informed direct care to children and their non-offending care provider in the aftermath of abuse.

The ultimate goal of the family advocate is to meet each child and family where they are at during the time of their work with them. This can look very different from person to person, and it is key that the family advocate is very comfortable and trained to provide resources, support, grounding and care within these variables.

Here is a quotation from a family we served: “I was beside myself not knowing what to do with my 15-year-old who was abusing his younger siblings. It was comforting to know that the CAC staff were there to listen to me and help me figure out how to keep all of my children safe. They provided some much-needed follow-up care after we came to the CAC. I never knew such a place existed. I will always be grateful as there was no place for me to go when I was little, and it took away the intimidation I felt for myself and my children going there. They don’t judge you, and they really heard what I was saying and not saying. I will never forget that. I now am receiving counseling for myself and I’m learning how to heal me so I can help my children heal, too.”

Some specific things that will occur within a CAC experience for families, while engaging with the family advocate, are safety assessments, processing current feelings around what is happening and referrals (if needed and requested) for wraparound supports such as referrals to our partners within our model — mental health, medical providers, Pine Tree Legal Aid and long-term victim advocacy.

As a program of Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Services, the transition from a CAC program advocate to a sexual assault advocate is seamless and makes the transition seamless for families. The family advocate strives to provide the child and non-offending care provider an experience that sends them on a path of healing.

Advocacy for a family does not end the day of the interview. The family advocate is available to follow up on referrals, provide continued support, and be available to partners as part of a coordinated response to the child abuse in our communities. Family Advocate Amy Morin, who is based at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties, said that “it’s an honor to be able to support families and for them to put their trust in us.”

Child abuse and neglect is an issue that impacts all communities. To learn more about the CAC model and child abuse prevention resources, visit cac-afo.org. To learn more about the programs within our agency, you can visit our website at sapars.org.

Jamie Miller is a forensic interviewer with the Children’s Advocacy Center of Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties.

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