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The Southwest Virginia
Children's Advocacy Center offers a full child abuse
continuum of care, from prevention to intervention to
treatment. The goal is to prevent child abuse and to
intervene effectively when abuse occurs so that children are
not victimized by systems designed to protect them.
Prevention services take place in the home, in the community
and in the school system. Intervention and treatment
services for children who have been sexually or severely
physically abused are provided on-site at MEOC in the CAC.
The Children's Advocacy Center is a
child-friendly, child-focused, community oriented, safe facility in which
representatives from many disciplines meet to discuss and make decisions about
the investigation, treatment and prosecution of child abuse cases. They also
work to prevent further victimization of children. The multi-disciplinary team
approach brings together under one umbrella all the professionals and agencies
needed to offer comprehensive services: law enforcement, child protective
services, prosecution, victim advocacy and the medical community. On-site
therapy provided by licensed, clinical social worker to children who have been
victims of abuse. A specially trained professional conducts forensic
interviews in the CAC in a room designed to appeal to children of all ages.
Other team members observe and participate from behind a one-way mirror. This
approach reduces the number of times children must repeat their stories of
abuse. The initial contact person and the safe atmosphere are critical in the
efforts to gain children’s confidence and trust. A Licensed Clinical Social
Worker offers short-term mental health therapy and crisis intervention for
children and the Family Advocate program, providing case management and
support to non-offending caregivers.
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