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.
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.
What do you do? Who do you tell?
How do you make it stop?
DID YOU KNOW?
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.
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.
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.
Advocacy
Advocates for victims provide crisis intervention, education, support, follow-up, referrals, needs assessments, court preparation and accompaniment for children and their non-offending family members. The assigned Advocate acts as the liaison between law enforcement, social services, prosecutors, and mental health providers whenever necessary.
Counseling & Therapy
Licensed mental health providers and counselors are available to offer on-site counseling and therapy for children and their non-offending family members to help deal with the many feelings and emotions experienced after a disclosure of abuse.
Forensic Interviewing
On-site forensic interviews are conducted in a child-friendly, non-threatening environment. Specially trained child interviewers ensure a neutral, legally sound, fact finding interview process that will reduce the trauma and minimize the number of interviews a victimized child will have to endure.
Medical Examinations
Our program offers on-site medical exams when appropriate for victimized children. These exams are provided by a physician or nurse practitioner who has specialized training in the medical evaluation of child abuse cases.
Child Support Groups
Trauma therapists professionally trained in child abuse cases provide developmentally appropriate groups for child victims of abuse in a safe and friendly environment.
Caregiver Support Groups
Professionally trained group facilitators provide support for non-offending caregivers to provide education and information on a variety of topics including the dynamics of child sexual abuse, offender information, and prevention of future victimization.
Community Education
Presentations are available for education and outreach for the community for children and adults for recognition, response, and prevention of child abuse. These topics include child abuse prevention, child and infant safety, childhood trauma, program services and resources, and mandated reporter training.
Victim Claims Assistance
Our staff assists with claim application to the New York State Office of Victim Services for reimbursement to victims of crime and abuse.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
Located at 946 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534
What's next
Supports & Information
Stay informed & get supports
Learn more about child abuse & safety resources
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.