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Helping Kids Heal
CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER

Our Child Advocacy Center serves an important role in identifying and prosecuting child abuse, and helping young victims heal from their painful experiences.

We help children find their voice
HELPING KIDS HEAL

Imagine you are 7 years old. Your mom's new boyfriend has started coming into your bedroom at night.

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Imagine you are 12 years old. Your coach has started touching you and tells you he will kill your little sister if you tell anyone.

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What do you do? Who do you tell?
How do you make it stop?

DID YOU KNOW?

1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.

A critical service
WHY THE CAC IS SO IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN

Without a Child Advocacy Center (CAC), a child may have to retell the worst story of their life — again and again — to doctors, police, lawyers, and others.


They might be questioned in a police station where they feel scared or think they’re in trouble, or asked confusing questions by someone who doesn’t realize how delicate the situation is.


At the CAC, a child tells their story once, in a calm, child-friendly space, to a specially trained interviewer who asks questions gently and respectfully. Then a team of professionals — from law enforcement, child protection, medical, mental health, and victim advocacy — works together to decide how best to help.
The CAC is a bridge to wellbeing; connecting children and families with the care and support they need — all in one safe place.

What we do

A look at the services we provide

The Child Advocacy Center provides a centralized hub to connect children and families with care and support. Multiple agencies work together as part of a multidisciplinary team to simplify the process of care, treatment, and prosecution of alleged child abuse cases.

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About Child Advocacy

The Child Advocacy Center is a safe, child friendly location for children to come speak with trained interviewers or one of our medical providers.

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At the CAC, we work with a multidisciplinary team of professionals from law enforcement, child protective services, and the district attorney's office. When you come to the CAC, you will be able to meet with the professionals working on your child's case and ask them further questions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about abuse, trafficking and exploitation.

The first step in helping a child who is a victim of abuse, neglect, or child sex trafficking is to recognize the warning signs. 

Find out more about what human trafficking is and the types of trafficking that exists in our communities.

About Human Trafficking

Find out how perpetrators of child sexual abuse groom children to manipulate, exploit and abuse them.

About Grooming

Learn ways to keep yourself safe from exploitation and other resources to combat human trafficking.

Safety Tips & Resources

Get in touch

Catskill Location & 24hr Support Helpline

Call our REACH & Child Advocacy Center helpline anytime, 24 hours a day at 518.943.4482. Trained staff provide crisis counseling and support services.

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Located at 455 Main St., Catskill, NY 12414

Hudson Location

Our Child Advocacy Center in Hudson is available for Columbia County cases. Call 518.697.3320 for assistance. Please call our 24 hour helpline at 518.943.4482 if you need assistance after hours.

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Located at 946 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534

See Something, Say Something

Our REACH and CAC Centers for crime and abuse serve over 500 children, families, and adults each year. In the case of children, they can be too afraid, and sometimes too young, to speak up for themselves. They need help from others.

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Find information on other child & family programs

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Learn more about abuse & know the signs

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Get directions to one of our locations

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