Specialized interviews for abused kids in Memphis

Opened in 1992, the Memphis Child Advocacy Center supports safety for children through informed
prevention, community collaboration, and a team approach to healing and justice for victims of child sexual and severe physical abuse.

Children who come to the CAC benefit from the best investigative and therapeutic services available—and get a real chance to get their childhood back. The CAC coordinates the team of professionals needed to confront severe child abuse. CAC staff members work alongside prosecutors, law enforcement officers, child protection workers, and medical clinicians from 16 local agencies.

Together, these highly trained professionals form a coordinated team that responds, investigates and intervenes in cases of suspected child sexual abuse or severe physical abuse. The majority of these cases involve child sexual abuse.

Our vision is a community where children are safe, families are strong, and victims become children again. Effective child sexual abuse prevention is a crucial strategy in making that vision a reality.

On staff, we have three professional Forensic Interviewers, one of whom is bilingual in Spanish and English, are trained child interview specialists who conduct fact-finding interviews of suspected victims of child sexual abuse at the CAC. Last year 1,400 suspected child sexual abuse victims received developmentally-appropriate legally
defensible forensic interviews at the CAC. In each instance, at least one team member from the Department of Children’s Services or law enforcement observed the interview via a closed-circuit video monitoring system. The quality of the interviews is paramount, as the interview forms the centerpiece of the investigation. The CAC Forensic Interviewers use an interview model called RATAC (which stands for the steps in the fact-finding process, including Rapport, Anatomy Identification, Touch Inquiry, Abuse Scenario, and Closure). This evidence-based model has been repeatedly validated in court. The information gained in interviews is used by the Shelby County Child Protection Investigation Team in making child protection, criminal offense, therapeutic and intervention decisions.

It is imperative that suspected victims of child sexual abuse receive high quality and timely interviews, conducted in a child-friendly location. Every effort must be taken to minimize any further trauma for the children. Over the last three years, the number of children participating in a forensic interview at the CAC has increased 38%. In order to
provide timely and comprehensive service for children referred for interviews, the CAC added the third Forensic Interviewer position in 2009. Your support has helped tremendously. Due to this third position we have eliminated a waiting period that had climbed to 2 weeks, and we have expanded interview services to include older children.

Previously our protocol was limited to children under the age of 13, because of additional challenges and
increased training needed to effectively interview younger children. However, the CAC and our team partners in law enforcement and child protective services prioritized the expansion of interview services for the older children, knowing that all kids deserve the same high quality service that can be offered by the CAC forensic interviewers. In just the first six months of having three forensic interviewers, we have been able to serve 40% more teens, ages 13 to 17. Since the hiring of the additional interviewer, we have also added evening hours for interview services to better serve the needs of families. Your funds are important to sustain these services.

The CAC is the only nonprofit organization providing forensic interview services for suspected victims of child sexual
abuse in Shelby County. It is vital that we are able to continue to serve the children in Shelby County who may have been abused. We have a critical need to secure additional funding to help ensure that we continue to serve the needs of all sexually abused children in a timely way.

Links:

• The Memphis Child Advocacy website. Please visit us.

It takes a capable, committed team to successfully confront child sexual abuse  - and in Memphis/Shelby County, TN, that alliance of professionals works at the Memphis Child Advocacy Center. Our multidisciplinary team is a combination of CAC staff members working alongside prosecutors, law enforcement officers, child protection workers and medical clinicians from 16 local agencies. All are dedicated to a common goal: responding to reported abuse with intervention that results in justice, safety and healing for children.

Children first come to the Memphis CAC following a report of suspected sexual abuse, usually for a forensic interview. Last year nearly 1,000 talked with one of our professional forensic interviewers. Our interview specialists conduct developmentally-appropriate, fact-finding interviews using an interview model called RATAC (which stands for the steps in the fact-finding process, including Rapport, Anatomy Identification, Touch Inquiry, Abuse Scenario, and Closure). The goal is to gain information while minimizing trauma to the child.

When children experience a forensic interview at the CAC, they can tell their truth and begin the healing process. Even children who have experienced the horrific trauma of sexual abuse can heal, when they have the compassionate support and professional help provided at the CAC.

In just the last 6 years, the number of children coming to the Memphis CAC for an interview following a report of abuse has more than doubled. Funding through GlobalGiving plays a critical role in helping sustain these vital services for abused children. Thank you!

Forensic Interviewers are trained child interview specialists who conduct developmentally-appropriate legally defensible interviews of suspected victims of child sexual abuse at the CAC. At the end of an interview, a child gets to pick a brand new bear from our Bear Wall. Each bear symbolizes hope and comfort to a child that has been hurt usually from someone they trust.


The Children’s Memorial Flag was created in 1998 by a 16-year-old student in Alameda County, California, and is the centerpiece of the national public awareness campaign initiated by the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA).

The Children’s Memorial Flag is a call to action. A child’s death to abuse is a painful reminder that our community must rally to help any and all children at risk.

To find out how you can be part of the solution to end child abuse, please go to our website MemphisCAC.org.

Thanks to all of our supporters that believe in helping victims become children again. With your generous help, we are able to continue to serve the kids in Shelby County, TN.Forensic Interviewers are trained child interview specialists who conduct developmentally-appropriate legally defensible interviews of suspected victims of child sexual abuse at the CAC. At the end of an interview, a child gets to pick a brand new bear from our Bear Wall. Each bear symbolizes hope and comfort to a child that has been hurt usually from someone they trust.


 

 .

Links:

• http://www.memphiscac.org

The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) coordinates the team of professionals needed to confront severe child abuse: a combination of CAC staff members work alongside prosecutors, law enforcement officers, and child protection workers from 16 local agencies. Children who come to the CAC benefit from the best investigative and therapeutic services available - and get a real chance to get their childhood back.

Forensic Interviewers are trained child interview specialists who conduct developmentally-appropriate legally defensible interviews of suspected victims of child sexual abuse at the CAC. At the end of an interview, a child gets to pick a brand new bear from our Bear Wall. Each bear symbolizes hope and comfort to a child that has been hurt usually from someone they trust.

The Children’s Memorial Flag was created in 1998 by a 16-year-old student in Alameda County, California, and is the centerpiece of the national public awareness campaign initiated by the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA).

The Children’s Memorial Flag is a call to action. A child’s death to abuse is a painful reminder that our community must rally to help any and all children at risk.

To find out how you can be part of the solution to end child abuse, please go to our website MemphisCAC.org.

Thanks to all of our supporters that believe in helping victims become children again. With your generous help, we are able to continue to serve the kids in Shelby County, TN.

Links:

• http://www.memphiscac.org

Forensic Interviewers are trained child interview specialists who conduct developmentally-appropriate legally defensible interviews of suspected victims of child sexual abuse at the CAC. At the end of an interview, a child gets to pick a brand new bear from our Bear Wall. Each bear symbolizes hope and comfort to a child that has been hurt usually from someone they trust.

Recently, the Child Advocacy Center sent out a call to action to the community for bears. The community response was overwhelming! Each cubby on the wall is filled with cuddly snuggly bears. The Mayor of Memphis, The Honorable AC Wharton, even placed our need on his FaceBook page!

You can keep updated on what is happening at the CAC on FaceBook, please 'like' Memphis Child Advocacy Center! You can also go to our website www.MemphisCAC.org to learn about other ways you can support our mission.

Thanks to all of our supporters that believe in helping victims become children again. With your generous help, we are able to continue to serve the kids in Shelby County, TN.