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What
is a CAC
The purpose
of a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is to provide
services to children and non-offending family members that are victims
of child sexual and physical abuse. CAC’s use a multi-disciplinary
approach coordinating law enforcement, child protective services,
prosecution, mental health, medical personnel and victim advocacy
to provide the most comprehensive services available so that children
are not re-victimized by the very system in place to protect them.
A Children’s Advocacy Center provides a comfortable child friendly
atmosphere where the child can feel safe and staff are specially
trained to deal with the issues of child victimization.
Our
History
The Osceola
County Children’s Advocacy Center Task Force was formed
in November 2001, spearheaded by the Kissimmee Police Department.
The community came together to discuss the concern of children not
having access to needed services following the identification of
possible abuse. In some cases, children and families had to travel
outside of the county for medical exams and forensic interviews.
In addition, very little local supports or advocacy services were
available for these families in crisis.
In May 2002,
a project director was hired to establish a Children’s Advocacy
Center, which would provide a child friendly facility for child
abuse victims, coordinate the investigative response and provide
for the needs of the child and family in crisis and beyond.
Time-Line
of Important Dates:
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May
2002
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Full time Project Director was hired.
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September
2002
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Co-location
of partner agencies.
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October
2003
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A
Child Advocate was hired to provide crisis intervention,
advocacy and support to children and families. |
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December
2003
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Development
of Investigative Guidelines and Agency Agreements for
the investigation of child abuse cases. |
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January
2004
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Development
of the Foster Care Recruitment and
Marketing Project. |
November 2006 |
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Two Additional Child Advocate positions were added. |
January 2008 |
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The CAC finalized plans to build a state-of-the art Center. |
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The CAC
for Osceola County continues to grow and expand meeting its mission
of providing and coordinating services to victims of child abuse
and their families.
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