About
More Than Just An Interview. We Are Restoring Lives, Together.
What Is A Child Advocacy Center?
Child advocacy centers (CAC) are defined by the Children’s Bureau (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) as Level 1 emergency responders.
CACs are how communities mount a coordinated response to the allegation of child abuse. Without a CAC, a child may end up having to tell the worst story of his or her life over and over again, to doctors, police, lawyers, therapists, investigators, judges, and others. They may not get the help they need to heal once the investigation is over, either.
When police or child protective services believe a child is possibly being abused, the child is brought to the CAC-a safe, child-focused environment-by a caregiver or other “safe” adult. At the CAC, the child tells their story once to a trained forensic interviewer who knows how to appropriately to ask the right questions to the child. Then, based on the interview, a multidisciplinary team that includes law enforcement, child protective services, victims advocates and possibly prosecutors make decisions together about how to help the child. Finally, CACs offer a wide range of services like therapy, medical exams, courtroom preparation, victim advocacy, case management and more.
About North Star Child Advocacy Center, Inc.
North Star CAC and our partners are the front-line responders in Wood, Wirt, Pleasants, Calhoun, and Ritchie to reports of child sexual abuse and children who have experienced violence. Since opening our doors in 2014, we have served more than 3,000 children.
North Star CAC coordinates the efforts of child protection staff, law enforcement professionals, family advocates, medical experts, and mental health clinicians under one roof. Our staff:
- facilitates our partners’ collaborative response
- arranges families’ visits to the center, including provision of support services, such as transportation
- conducts forensic interviews
- provides family advocacy and crisis intervention services
- provides mental health therapy
- ensures appropriate medical treatment
All of our services are aimed at reducing trauma so that children and families may begin the healing process. North Star Child Advocacy Center, Inc. services are free of charge to every client.
Our Team Sets Us Apart
North Star Child Advocacy Center, Inc.’s staff of experienced professionals is dedicated to helping children heal from abuse in Wood, Wirt, Pleasants, Calhoun, and Ritchie. We are equally supported by our Board of Directors — and volunteers who are committed to our mission and bring a variety of vital professional expertise and experience to the organization.
Meet Our Team
Mission Statement
The mission of North Star Child Advocacy Center is to provide our communities with a coordinated, multidisciplinary, and sensitive approach to child abuse through a child friendly center in which child abuse can be addressed. North Star CAC recognizes the need to reduce the trauma that children and families experience during the investigation process.
North Star CAC will be a good teammate to every person or agency that works on behalf of children and non-offending family members.
All children will be safe, families strengthened, victims healed, and offenders held accountable.