Child Advocacy Centers
NH Child Advocacy Centers
The Network of Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) in NH are responsible for the coordination of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) of professional including local law enforcement, the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), and the County Attornye’s Office/Attorney General’s Office, who investigate and prosecute incidents of child abuse. CACs coordinate and provide forensic interviews, family support services, medical and behavioral health referrals, and community supports to ensure timely access to essential services.
CACs provide coordinated support to children 3-18 (and their cregivers) who are alleging child sexual abuse, felony level physical abuse, or have witnessed a violent crime such as homocide or domestic violence. CACs strive to reduce trauma suffered by child victims of abuse by creating a child-firendly, victim centered safe place where children can talk to a trained professional forensic interviewer about their abuse and streamline the investigative process.
The evidence-based CAC model is defensible in court and deemed best pracice for child abuse investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice.