Child Advocacy Center Inc

Programs: In a child-friendly environment, the child advocacy center provides services to address the issues that impact an alleged child victim's physical safety, physical health and mental health. Forensic evidence is gathered verbally and physically to ensure that appropriate health and safety interventions and decisions are made. Our three main services include: foresnsic interviews, sexual assault forensic exams (safe), and child at risk exams (care). These services are provided to southwest missouri's most medically-marginalized families with upwards of 90% of the children we serve relying on medicaid to meet their health care needs. The first step begins with a forensic interview. This objective, non-leading age-appropriate interview is often a child's first opportunity to talk with someone who is non-judgmental about the trauma he or she has experienced. Information gathered drives the multi-disciplinary team's recommendations about whether children need to be taken into protective custody, as well as which medical or mental health interventions the child requires. Our full-time medical staff function as part of the team while listening to the forensic interview in order to determine whether there has been an exchange of bodily fluids or oral or anogenital penetration. From there, the appropriate medical tests are performed on site. The overall health of the child is determined through a painstakingly detailed exam, documenting all components of the child's health. A dental exam is performed and the child is screened for appropriate nutrition and growth. Each child's mental health and developmental function is also noted with appropriate follow-up performed. If more comprehensive services are needed (such as x-rays), then the community collaborations exist to ensure these needs are met at no cost to the family. Those children who are too young to be interviewed (typically younger than three years) also receive an exam to ensure appropriate health interventions are made. Because the majority of the children served will never see a courtroom, the overarching mission of the organization focuses on reducing stress on the child, and ensuring their overall health and safety. As a final step, if the child's case goes to trail, our medical and forensic staff testify as to the child's disclosure as well as the health issues identified during the exam process.