Our CAC Side

What is a CAC?

Children’s Advocacy Centers (commonly referred to as CACs) provide a comfortable, child-friendly environment that hosts a safe place for child victims of abuse and assault to talk about what has happened and begin to heal. More specifically, CACs are child-focused, community-oriented, facility-based programs in which representatives from many disciplines meet to discuss and make decisions about investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases. They also work to prevent further victimization of children.

Children’s Advocacy Centers operate under the “Children’s Advocacy Center model” (pictured below) to provide a well-coordinated, multidisciplinary response to allegations of child abuse or victimization, beginning with a forensic interview and including case management and therapeutic services for children and their non-offending family members or guardians. With help from the Center, these children and families no longer have to repeatedly tell their story or face the justice system alone.

CAC Model

Who Qualifies for Services?

Children & Caregivers

**All services are free.**

Children who have:

been sexually abused (by a stranger or non-stranger)
experienced other types of abuse
witnessed violent crimes
*The non-offending caregivers of these children can also receive services.
Please note:
There are various requirements necessary in order for children to qualify for services.
For example, child abuse must be reported to CPS and/or law enforcement. How those agencies proceed with their case will determine which services are available to the children and caregivers involved.

Services

Advocacy Services

The time from outcry of abuse until the end of a criminal trial can take months or even years. The Advocacy program provides support and information to victims and their non-offending families involved with our MDT Team. This program provides a continuum of care for clients from the first day they come to The Center until the end of the resulting criminal trial. Advocates work with our MDT Team to represent the best interest of the client and provide information to clients regarding the status of their case, and make referrals for additional services and resources as needed.

Coordinated Investigations

Our Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) is a group of professionals working together to investigate allegations of child abuse and sexual assault while ensuring that the best interests of the victims are being served. This team approach involves the vital resources of Advocacy Center staff, law enforcement, Child Protective Services, the prosecutors’ offices, and medical and mental health professionals. Each victims’ case is staffed by the MDT. These services are overseen by the Program Director.

Forensic Interviews

Hunt County Children’s Advocacy Center employs highly-trained forensic interviewers who interview child victims to gather information about the alleged offense for Law Enforcement, Child Protective Services, and prosecution.

Medical Services

All sexual assault examinations are conducted by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) who specializes in these type of exams.

Both types of exams are available for adult and child victims.

The two types of exams are:

Non-Acute sexual assault exams are non-invasive sexual assault exams which happen when the assault/abuse happened outside of 120-hour window; these exams are scheduled and take place at the Center.
Acute sexual assault exams are evidence collection exams that take place at a hospital within 120 hours of the assault/abuse. Advocates are available to accompany victims at the hospital throughout the exam process to provide crisis intervention, advocacy and information.

Therapeutic Services

Child abuse victims, their non-offending family members, and adult sexual assault survivors are invited to enter free counseling and therapy programs conducted by the Center. Licensed professional counselors (LPCs), their interns, and contracted practitioners provide individual therapy, play therapy, and pet-assisted therapy to help victims and their families find healing after the abuse. Practitioners utilize techniques in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to assist in restoring the victims lives. Therapeutic services are overseen by the Clinical Director. You can find our therapy referral form here. (Therapy internships available; call 903-454-9999 for details). Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Interns and Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (LMFT) Associates are welcome to apply. The Clinical Director supervises LPC-Interns and LMFT-Associates.

Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TSY)
& Somatic Movements

Our yoga program goes beyond trauma-informed group yoga classes. It applies a combination of trauma sensitive yoga techniques, mindfulness, meditation, and somatic practices to help survivors self-regulate and learn the complexities of how trauma has impacted their body. While this program is based on components of hatha style yoga that employs physical forms and body movements, the emphasis is not placed on the outward manifestation of the posture. Rather, the focus is on interoception, the ability to feel and interpret bodily sensations while in the posture.

Current clients of all ages are eligible for our yoga program once given a referral from one of our therapists. Participants will be asked to complete a consent form and waiver prior to starting.

Jewel West, a long time staff member and a 500 RYT, facilitates the program. Jewel has completed more than 120 hours of professional training in trauma based yoga practices. She holds advanced certificates in Trauma Informed Yoga, Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy, the Trauma Conscious Yoga Method, Prenatal Yoga, Kidding Around Yoga, Ayurvedic Nutrition and in mindfulness and meditation. Please reach out to her for additional information at Jewel.West@ccnetx.org, or by calling 903-454-9999.