Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary Teams : Child Advocacy Centers (CACs)

CACs bring together the key disciplines listed above to support the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases. The National Children’s Alliance developed National Standards of Accreditation for Children’s Advocacy Centers which contains ten standards, each with numerous individual components that must be met:

1. Multidisciplinary Team Standard — the team includes representatives from the child abuse medical profession, mental health, victim advocacy, law enforcement, CPS, and prosecution.
2. Services are provided with attention to cultural humility as well as diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
3. Forensic interviews are conducted in a neutral manner with an emphasis on fact-finding.
4. Victim support and advocacy services are available to all children and their non-offending caretakers.
5. Medical evaluations are performed by an expert in child abuse medicine and are available to all children.
6. Mental health services are provided by an expert in trauma-informed mental health and are available to all children and their non-offending caretakers.
7. Case review, including a multidisciplinary discussion about the investigation, case status, and services needed by the child and their non-offending caretakers, occurs on a regular basis. It also provides an opportunity to confirm that all protocols are being followed.
8. Cases are monitored for progress and outcomes.
9. The physical space is child friendly in that it is comfortable, private, and welcoming.
10. Administrative policies and procedures of the CAC are monitored by a designated legal entity separate from the CAC.

For more information, see: National Children’s Alliance National Standards of Accreditation for Children’s Advocacy Centers.

In 2023, the National Children’s Alliance added three optional standards of accreditation related to commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), child abuse prevention, and physical abuse. For more information, see: National Children’s Alliance National Optional Standards of Accreditation for Children’s Advocacy Centers.

A trauma-informed, multidisciplinary approach allows children who may have been abused to access comprehensive medical and mental health care and support while also protecting their rights and minimizing the trauma of investigative and legal proceedings. In fact, children and their caregivers report fewer PTSD symptoms in themselves/their children after trauma treatment at a CAC. Furthermore, 97% of caregivers believe their children feel safe at CACs and 94% of caregivers report they know what to expect because of their contact with the CAC. For more information, see: National Children’s Alliance Healing, Justice, & Trust - A National Report on Outcomes for Children’s Advocacy Centers.