Our Services at the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) of Lawrence County

The licensed therapists at the CAC:

• Provides child-friendly, trauma-focused therapy to children and their supportive caregivers who have suffered abuse.
• Have special training in treating children from birth to age 18.
• Know how trauma impacts a child's well-being and use evidence-based treatments to help with healing.

The goals of our therapy services are to:

• Restore a child's sense of safety.
• Start the healing process.
• Lessen the long-term effects of abuse.

Treatments we offer that address the impact of child abuse include:

• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF CBT).
• Alternative Families Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AF CBT).
• Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
• Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP).

Resources:

• Recognizing and Treating Child Traumatic Stress.
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

Forensic interview

This one-time, recorded interview of a child takes place when there are concerns that they may have suffered abuse or neglect. We also interview children who witness violence.

The interview takes place at a child-friendly place in a supportive and non-leading manner.

Experts with training in nationally recognized forensic interview models will meet with your child. Law enforcement or child protective services (CYS) will observe.

After the interview, we urge every child who is a possible victim of sexual assault to have a forensic medical exam.

A sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) does the exam at the CAC. This helps ensure your child's health and safety. The nurse will look for any physical signs of abuse.

For parents of children scheduled for forensic interviews

Before you arrive at the center, it's vital to talk to your child. Let them know that someone whose job is to help make sure kids are safe needs to talk with them.

Let your child ask questions about the interview and talk freely. Be sure not to guide your child in what they should or shouldn't say.

When you arrive for the interview

When you get to the CAC:

• An advocate will greet you and take you to the waiting room where they'll answer any questions they may have.
• You then meet with the forensic interviewer and observers to give them some background about your child and the case.
• The advocate will stay with your child while you're out of the room.

What to expect during your child's forensic interview

The child will then meet with the forensic interviewer and see the observation room. Only investigators involved in your child's case observe interviews.

It's crucial for the interviewer to talk with your child alone. If someone has abused your child, it might be hard for them to talk about this in front of you.

You can wait in the waiting room during your child's interview. Most last about 30 minutes but some can be shorter or longer. The length of the interview depends the age of the child and the details of the case.

The forensic interviewer spends much of their time getting to know your child and helping them feel more at ease.

You don't have to worry that they're interrogating your child or talking about the abuse the whole time. Remember. The forensic interviewer is there to protect your child and make them feel safe about telling their story.

The intervention services team at the CAC of Lawrence County

Our expert team comes from a wide range of fields and includes:

• Law enforcement.
• CYS.
• District attorneys.
• Advocates.
• Social workers.
• School staff.
• CAC staff.

Team members involved in the case meet with you and the forensic interviewer before and after to decide a plan of action.

The larger team meets monthly to review all cases of alleged child abuse and arrange prosecution and victim's services.

What is a family advocate?

The family advocate at CAC:

• Provides and arranges services with families and communities that promote strength, healthy living, and overall well-being.
• Acts as a liaison between families, staff, law enforcement, and other family-related services.
• Greets you when you arrive at the CAC for your child's forensic interview to answer any questions.
• Does a needs assessment and mental health screening on your child after their interview. or needs that They'll make any referrals, provide resources, or meet any other needs that may arise after the interview.

This program serves parents whose children are in foster placement. The goal is to reunite the child or children with their parents.

Reunification counselors help families create a safe, stable, and supportive environment.

The program offers:

• Family function factors assessment.
• Supportive counseling.
• Case management.
• Parenting education and coaching.

Counselors use a range of evidence-based programs to help achieve reunification, including:

• Triple P (Positive Parenting Program).
• Nurturing Parenting Program.
• Strengthening Families Framework.
• Circle of Security.

Did you know? 63% of fathers say they spend too little time with their kids?

Fathers play a vital role in their children's lives. Whether he lives with his kids or not, having an involved father plays a large part in their happiness and health.

Promoting Responsible Fatherhood helps fathers be responsible and commit to their child's lives.

For more resources, go to the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse.

If you're pregnant with your first baby, NFP can offer support and answer your questions through your pregnancy and beyond.

The program is free to those who qualify.

What can NFP do for me?

NFP pairs a first-time mom with a specially trained registered nurse who:

• Guides, teaches, and supports you during your pregnancy.
• Has a flexible schedule that works with your life.
• Helps you understand your baby's growth and how they're developing.
• Connects you with local resources.
• Provides evidence-based information about your health, your baby's health, and other health topics.

NFP also holds free classes throughout the year on topics such as:

• Infant massage
• Breastfeeding
• Nutrition

Who can sign up for NFP?

NFP is for first-time moms who:

• Live in Lawrence or Mercer Counties.
• Are less than 28 weeks pregnant.
• Have an income at 235% of the federal poverty level.

If you aren't sure if you qualify, call our office at 724-658-4688 so we can help.

Where do visits take place?

NFP comes to you.

We can meet in your home, at your school, or wherever works for you. We also offer virtual visits.

You may include whomever you'd like in our visits.

What can I expect during a visit?

Visits are about you and your baby. You and your nurse will work together to choose topics that matter most to you.

We listen to your concerns and can help you make informed decisions about your health and that of your baby.

What happens after I have my baby?

Your nurse will stay with you as you grow more confident as a mother and help you work toward your family's goals.

Some common topics we help with are:

• Infant feedings.
• Sleep and wake patterns.
• Growth and development.
• Baby safety.

Parents as Teachers works with parents and caregivers to promote their child's early development, learning, and health.

Results of the Parents as Teachers model

This proven and effective home visiting program helps both children and parents.

• Early detection of a child's developmental delays and health problems.
• Children enter kindergarten ready to learn.
• Kids achieve school success into the elementary grades.
• Parents improve their parenting knowledge and skills.
• Parents are more involved in their children's schooling.
• Parents are more likely to promote children's language and literacy.
• Helps prevent child abuse and neglect.

What happens during a Parents as Teachers visit?

At our first visit, our team assesses family needs and partners with parents to set family goals.

We'll provide resources to help you support your children's emotional, behavioral, and physical growth.

Other visits focus on:

• Parent-child interaction.
• Development-centered parenting.
• Family well-being.

For those families struggling with substance use issues, our certified recovery specialists can help.

Early Head Start (EHS) is a free, income-based, in-home program for children ages 3 and younger. The program uses the evidence-based Parents as Teachers Curriculum to provide parenting and child development education.

Weekly visits by a specially trained Family Development Specialist last at least 90 minutes.

EHS provides social visits twice a month, which benefit both children and parents with positive social interactions. Parents can volunteer for Policy Council, which makes decisions about the EHS Program.

What to expect during an EHS visit:

• Age-appropriate activities.
• Developmental topics including health, safety, nutrition, mental health, and transitions.
• Developmental screenings including Ages and Stages, hearing, and vision.
• Setting family and child goals.
• School readiness assessment based on the EHS framework.