For a child who has endured abuse, telling the story once can be painful. Telling it again and again—to police officers, caseworkers, attorneys, and other unfamiliar adults—can intensify fear and trauma. Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) offer a better path: one welcoming place where professionals coordinate their work, children are heard with care, and families can begin moving toward healing and justice.

Family Services established its CAC 25 years ago to reduce the burden that traditional investigations placed on young victims and their families. Today, it is part of a nationwide network of more than 900 centers using a proven model of intervention, advocacy, and prevention—bringing the right experts together around the needs of each child.

“We aim to provide a comprehensive, coordinated response to child maltreatment—reducing trauma while strengthening the investigation,” says J. Nelson-Weaver, chief program officer of Clinical and Community Services. That coordination is central to the CAC approach: law enforcement, child protective services, medical providers, prosecutors, advocates, and therapists share information and plan next steps together.

Children referred by law enforcement or child protective services enter a child-focused setting designed to build trust. A trained forensic interviewer asks non-leading questions while members of the multidisciplinary team observe from another room. The child can share the account once, in their own words, while investigators gather the information they need. For Mateo*, who had endured years of abuse, speaking at the CAC became a turning point. He was heard, connected with support, and no longer left to carry the experience alone.

CAC Director Ernest Britton describes the commitment behind that work: “When you see a child at their darkest moment and say, ‘I am only here for you. I will listen to you, fight for you, and be there for you’—that is why I do what I do.” The promise extends beyond the interview. Advocates help families understand the process, locate resources, and stay connected as a case moves forward.

The results are measurable—and deeply personal. Last year, Family Services’ CAC served 200 children and conducted 198 forensic interviews, and every youth surveyed reported feeling safe and heard. Behind each number is a child met with patience, a caregiver given guidance, and a family supported through an overwhelming moment.

Every child deserves to be heard, protected, and given the chance to heal without delay. With sustained community investment in these services, the Family Services CAC can continue providing one safe place, one coordinated response, and one unified voice for children when they need it most.

 

*Not his real name