What is a Children's Advocacy Center?
The Children’s Advocacy Center is a safe place for kids who may have been abused. The center brings together a team of specially trained professionals who evaluate and investigates cases of child abuse and help children and their families. The center has been designed to help you and your child feel comfortable, safe and minimize trauma.
Why A CAC is Needed?
Discovering a child may be the victim of abuse, maltreatment or other trauma is a frightening, disturbing experience that affects the entire family. The investigation and response can be confusing and overwhelming, involving many different agencies and systems.
The Children’s Advocacy Center brings all services needed together in a place designed especially for children. As a result, cases are thoroughly investigated, medical counseling and victim advocacy services are provided and the trauma for the child and family is reduced.
“We are a community-based system based on partnerships. This is so key to the vision that the state of Florida has for taking care of children.”
– Senator Gayle Harrell
Services We Offer
- ✔️ We provide a safe, supportive environment for children who may have been physically or sexually abused or have witnessed a violent act
- ✔️ A multidisciplinary team investigates with compassion and coordination
- ✔️ Medical evaluation and treatment by medical professionals
- ✔️ Sensitive forensic interviews conducted by a specially trained interviewer
- ✔️ Mental health services to meet specific needs of the children and caregivers
- ✔️ Advocacy services
- ✔️ Community prevention by raising awareness and knowledge of abuse
Counties Served Under the 19th Judicial Circuit
- ✔️ Indian River County
- ✔️ Okeechobee County
- ✔️ St. Lucie County
- ✔️ Martin County
