What is CAC?
A Child Advocacy Center (CAC) is a comfortable, private, child-friendly setting that provides a safe space for child victims of abuse and assault to talk about what happened. The purpose of a CAC is to provide a well-coordinated multidisciplinary team response to allegations of child abuse or victimization, beginning with a forensic interview and including case management services for children and their non-offending family members or guardians.
The Loudoun CAC
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- Reduces trauma for children who have been victims of abuse.
- Reduces the number of interviews children have to endure during the investigation.
- Provides a Victim Advocate to assist children and their non-offending family members access mental health and other support services
- Provides a specialized, neutral, forensic interviewer for children’s interviews.
- Offers links to specialized medical examination and treatment.
- Increases communication and collaboration among community agencies investigating, prosecuting, and providing support services.
- Increases successful prosecutions of child abuse cases.
- Provides funding for training for investigators and other child abuse professionals.
Why Does Loudoun Need A CAC?
The Loudoun County Community is not immune from family violence and child abuse.
- The U.S. statistics are shocking:
- 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18.
- 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18.
- 1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet.
- An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today.
- Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to children ages 17 and under.