Child Advocacy Center (CAC) Response

The Child Advocacy Center 

Based on a nationally recognized model, New Hampshire’s Child Advocacy Centers are community partnerships dedicated to pursuing the truth in child abuse cases and coordinating social services for child victims. By bringing together our State’s law enforcement, county attorneys, protective services, victim advocacy agencies and health professionals, New Hampshire’s child advocacy centers provide safe, child friendly locations for interviewing child victims. Children are interviewed by a forensic interviewer. The forensic interviewer has special training and is experienced in talking with children. The interviewer’s goal is to make your child as comfortable as possible gathering information.

Our Impact

Prior to the development of the CAC model, a child disclosing abuse would be subjected to numerous interviews. The social service and the criminal justice systems, at that time, were not working together in an effective manner which added to children’s emotional distress, and created a segmented, repetitious, and often frightening experience for the child victims. Compounding this problem was the lack of communication between the professional disciplines involved. This resulted in child sex offenders not being held accountable for their crimes, leaving children and our community at serious risk.

A Team Approach

The multi-disciplinary team approach of Child Advocacy Centers (CAC) has been deemed best practice in the investigation of child abuse cases. This approach ensures all aspects of the case are examined and that efforts are coordinated between professionals, our multi-disciplinary team (MDT).

The CAC/MDT Model

What are Forensic Interviewers?

Forensic interviews are neutral third party fact-finding interviews to find out what happened. Forensic interviewers at New Hampshire’s Child Advocacy Centers are trained in a nationally recognized model of forensic interviewing developed by the National Children’s Advocacy Center. Forensic interviews are an important step in child abuse investigations. They produce evidence that can be used in court if an investigation leads to criminal prosecution. Properly conducted forensic interviews are effective because they’re objective, non-leading, and carefully documented.

Our MDT Partners

Professionals assigned to a Child Advocacy Center team specialize in the area of child abuse.

Our partners include:

• County Attorney/Prosecutors – The county prosecutor leads the team and has the final decision as to whether charges will be filed. Prosecution may not happen in every case.
• Law Enforcement – Police Departments in New Hampshire assign investigators to their local Child Advocacy Center team. They interview children, non-offending parents, suspects and other witnesses and gather evidence from the scene of the alleged event.
• Child Protective Services – The role of the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) is to help protect children. The DCYF social workers conduct interviews with family members and develop safety plans. They may refer children and families to counseling or other support services within the community.
• Medical Providers – Physicians assigned to a Child Advocacy Center team have years of experience examining children for possible abuse. The exam may not prove if the child has been abused or not. Eighty percent of all children who have been abused have normal exams.
• Crisis Center Advocates – A crisis center advocate is available to provide support to non-offending parents/caregivers who have come with the child to the interview. The crisis center advocate is not part of the investigative team. They are a resource for support, referrals and information.
• Victim/Witness Advocates – Child Advocacy Centers work closely with the victim/witness programs at each County Attorney’s Office. The victim/witness advocate attends the interview, tracks cases as they come in for prosecution, works with the family to prepare for a criminal case in court as well as provide other support services.

Inside a Child Advocacy Center

New Hampshire’s Child Advocacy Centers are designed to make children and families feel welcome and safe. Our waiting rooms are child friendly and interview rooms are quiet and comfortable. Children tell what happened to a single, trusted interviewer while other professionals observe from another room.

• Confidentiality and respect for family privacy is very important to us. Our centers have separate areas for private conversations and interviews are scheduled so only one family is at a center at a time.
• Navigating the forensic interview process may feel overwhelming.
  • click here for more information about the CAC process.
• Each CAC in NH has a video tour with more information.
  • Find your CAC on our You Tube Channel

Staff at the Child Advocacy Center

Family Support Specialists
A Family Support Specialist (FSS) is the first person you will meet when you come to the Child Advocacy Center. They are part of the multi-disciplinary team and their role is to meet with the caregiver while the child victim is participating in the Forensic Interview.  The FSS will make referrals for behavioral health services, specialized medical care and other community resources.  The FSS will follow-up with the caregiver and ensure any questions are answered and that the family is connected with the appropriate services to begin their healing journey.   The FSS is always available to help the family after they leave the CAC.

Forensic Interviewers
Forensic interviewers at New Hampshire’s Child Advocacy Centers are trained in a nationally recognized model of forensic interviewing developed by the National Children’s Advocacy Center. The forensic interviewer has special training and is experienced in talking with children. The interviewer’s goal is to make your child as comfortable as possible gathering information.

Forensic interviews are a first step in child abuse investigations. They produce evidence that can be used in court if an investigation leads to criminal prosecution. Properly conducted forensic interviews are effective because they’re objective, non-leading, and carefully documented.

Behavioral Health Clinicians
We offer evidence-based, trauma- informed assessment and treatment services to support healing following a forensic interview. Child abuse can cause children and their families to lose trust in the world and in themselves. Support from a mental health professional can help children and families:
• Deal with strong and often confusing feelings
• Heal from the trauma and move beyond the abuse
The GSCA behavioral health staff is comprised of licensed and master’s level clinicians with training and expertise in trauma and child abuse. Behavioral health services are available in English.