The Child Center's mission is responding to child abuse through a supportive team approach to reduce the trauma to children and their families.
History of Child Advocacy Centers
The Child Center, Inc. was incorporated in January 1999 as a not-for-profit agency, became an Associate Member of the National Children’s Alliance in February 2001 and received full accreditation in October 2004. We are the only agency assisting with the investigation, detection, prosecution and prevention of child sexual abuse in the counties we serve. We are located in Wentzville, Missouri, with a satellite office in Hannibal and another due to open in Memphis. CAC's offer:
The Child Advocacy Center movement came to Missouri in the mid 1990’s out of the necessity to make the criminal justice system less traumatic for children. The first cities in Missouri to develop Child Advocacy Centers were Columbia, Joplin, Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield. Today there are fifteen full service Child Advocacy Centers across the state of Missouri serving all 115 counties and there are over 500 centers nationwide. Child Advocacy Centers provide a wide range of services in support of children, their families, and the professionals who serve them.
Approach/philosophy
The three main goals in helping children who have experienced child sexual abuse or serious physical abuse are first, by using the multi-disciplinary team approach for forensic interviews with the child, multiple interviews are reduced. The center works collaboratively with all 14 counties we serve to provide a child-friendly, non-threatening environment for the interview. Secondly, crisis intervention and counseling are provided for children and the non-offending parent. Additionally, SAFE exams (Sexual Assault Forensic Exams) are available for children. Third, we provide school-based sexual abuse and sexual harassment prevention and education programs for students, parents, and educators, and other community based mandated reporters.
