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Purpose of the Children’s Advocacy Center:
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●To
reduce the trauma experienced by children
and their families when a disclosure of
child sexual abuse or severe physical abuse
has occurred.
●To
address the need for a coordinated effort
among those agencies and professionals
dealing with abuse.
●To
provide support for the victims of abuse and
their families.
How We Can Help:
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●The
CAC is a facility with a
child-friendly atmosphere that
provides a safe and comfortable
place for your child to talk about
their abuse.
●The
CAC provides help with community and
victim support services for you and
your child.
●The
use of the CAC reduces the number of
people and number of times your
child will have to tell about the
abuse.
●The
CAC helps you talk to the team of
professionals involved in your
child’s case.
●The
CAC has a specially trained health
care professional available to
answer questions and to offer
specialized health examinations for
your child should you desire.
●Based
on the needs of your child and your
family the team will assist you with
victim support and with making
connections to community agencies
and support services.
●All
services of the CAC are free of
charge. |
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Frequently Asked Questions about the
Forensic Interview
What is a
forensic interview?
A forensic interview
is an interview conducted by a specially
trained professional who talks to your child
to get as much information as possible about
the allegations of abuse in an impartial,
non-threatening manner.
Do the
forensic interviewers have experience
working with children?
Yes. The
interviewers at the Children’s Advocacy
Center have special training and experience
talking to children about difficult
subjects. They will take into account your
child’s emotional needs and developmental
level in order to speak to your child in a
manner that is as child friendly and
non-threatening as possible to ensure that
it causes no further trauma to your child.
If you feel there is any information the
interviewer should have regarding your
child’s feelings, development, language
skills, or special needs you should inform
them when you meet with them before the
interview.
What should
I tell my child about the interview?
Assure your child that they are not in any
trouble and that they can tell the
interviewer everything that happened.
However, do not have your child practice
what to say and do not bring the abuse up
with your child. If your child brings it up
listen without commenting or questioning.
Reassure your child that everyone at the CAC
is here to help.
Can I watch
the interview?
No. This reduces the possible stress a child
may feel if he/she knows their parent is
watching. In addition, anyone who observes
the interview is a potential witness should
the case go to trial. If a parent is a
witness, then that parent is not allowed to
be with their child for support in the
courtroom during the trial.
How many
people will be in the room with my child
during the interview?
Only the interviewer will be in the room
with your child. All other team members will
observe the interview from a nearby room
either by closed circuit TV, or through a
two-way mirror.
What is a
multidisciplinary team and who is on the
team?
In addition to the forensic interviewer, the
multidisciplinary team may include members
from law enforcement, healthcare, the
district attorney’s office, the department
of Child and Families, and the staff of the
Children’s Advocacy Center. By including all
the members of the team in the interview
child victims of abuse and their families
avoid having to face many different
interviews by all the agencies that may be
involved the case.
Who should I
bring to the CAC? How long will I be there?
Try to bring another adult with you for
support and to watch your child when you
meet with the team after the interview.
Avoid bringing other children with you if at
all possible. You should be prepared to
spend 1 ½ to 2 hours at the CAC. The
interview usually lasts from 45 minutes to
an hour. After the interview you will meet
with the team members to discuss the
findings of the interview and what comes
next. Also, the team can assist you and your
family based on the individual needs of all
involved to ensure your child’s safety and
well-being, as well as the well-being of
your family.
What if my
child doesn’t want to talk when he/she gets
into the interview room?
We recognize that talking about abuse can be
very difficult for a child. At the CAC we
try to provide an environment where your
child will feel safe and comfortable so
he/she will open up and talk more freely.
However, children may be willing to talk
about the abuse one day but not the next. In
the event that your child is not ready to
discuss what happened, the interviewer will
not try to pressure your child to talk.
Health
Services
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The Bristol County CAC team includes
an Advance Practice Nurse from the
Massachusetts Pediatric Sexual
Assault Nurse Examiner (Pedi SANE)
Program. While we realize that not
everyone wants, or needs, a physical
examination, a complete physical
examination is available to every
child or adolescent who comes to the
CAC. Regardless of whether a child
or adolescent chooses to have an
exam, the PediSANE nurse is
available to the child and/or family
to answer questions, provide support
and talk about next steps. Here are
some benefits to meeting with a
PediSANE:
●No
matter how long ago abuse occurred,
children and adolescents have the
right to an evaluation and
reassurance that their bodies are
safe, whole and healthy.
●Children
and adolescents receive expert
examination, photo-documentation,
and collection of forensic evidence
as indicated and requested by
guardians.
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●If
an exam is indicated, it is just
like the exam a child or adolescent
might have at a regular check up –
with extra attention paid to the
outside of private parts. The exam
uses a special tool called a
“Medscope” which never touches the
child’s or adolescent’s body. In
this exam, nothing enters the body.
Nothing hurts. There are NEVER any
shots.
●Children
and adolescents sometimes have
questions about their bodies that
they have never asked anyone.
●Children,
adolescents and their guardians
receive a great deal of information
and support.
●Any
exam or meeting with a PediSANE is
free of charge (except for any lab
tests which require a small charge
to your health insurance). Please
bring your insurance card.
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