The Marion County Children’s Advocacy Center
The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is a child-friendly facility where child victims of abuse may be interviewed, undergo medical examinations, and receive therapy and various other services needed for the child and family to begin healing from the physical, mental and emotional scars of abuse.
CAC’s reduce additional trauma to child victims by coordinating investigations and services, thereby facilitating effective joint investigations and providing for prompt access to mental health and other appropriate services in a child-focused and non-threatening environment.
The Marion County Child Protection Team
The Child Protection Team (CPT) is responsible for providing the medical and social diagnosis of child abuse and neglect. This is a medically directed program with highly trained staff ready to respond in times of crisis, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The program works closely with the Department of Children & Families and local law enforcement agencies to provide forensic interviews and medical evaluations when a child is suspected of having been physically or sexually abused and/or neglected.
The CPT staff ensures that each part of the investigative team has all information necessary to determine what has occurred. If the child’s injuries are consistent with abuse, the CPT staff will document all evidence and make appropriate recommendations to further ensure the safety and well-being of the child.
