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VICTIM ADVOCACY 101
Defining Roles and Responsibilities
Yvette Roszell
Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center
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CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTERS ARE:
Facility based programs which providecomprehensive, multidisciplinary services to children suspected of having been abused, particularly sexually abused.
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CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTERS
Reduce trauma to children Improve the flow of information Hold offenders accountable Reduce burn-out
Forensic Interviewer Prosecution
Law
Enfo
rcem
ent
Child
Pro
tectio
n
MissionPurpose
CAC
Medical
Vic
tim
A
dvoca
cyM
enta
l Health
The Model
ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY
1985 – First CAC – National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC), Huntsville, AL
1987 – National Children’s Alliance (NCA) founded (Originally known as the National Network of CAC’s)
1995 – Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers established by US Department of Justice
REGIONAL CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTERS RCACs are training and technical assistance
resource centers for communities establishing or strengthening a CAC and are funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, OJJDP.
The four RCACs are assigned to specific geographic areas and work in partnership with NCA to further the development and growth of strong CACs across the country.
Southern RCAC 210 Pratt Avenue NE Huntsville, AL 35801 256-327-3752 Cym Doggett, Project Director
Northeast RCAC 4 Terry Drive, Suite 16 Newton, PA 18940 Anne Lynn, Project Director (215)-860-3111
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Regional Children's Advocacy Centers
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STATE CHAPTER ORGANIZATIONS Legislative issues Distribution of state funds Training Technical Assistance Support Development
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NATIONAL CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE National membership and accrediting organization
for Children’s Advocacy Centers. Mission: to promote and support communities in
providing a coordinated investigation and comprehensive response to child victims of abuse.
Awarded 8.7 million in grants during 2009.
Local CAC/MDT
And Chapters
National Children’s Alliance
Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers
Chapters
Accreditation/Standards/Administer
Grants
Trainin
g &
Techn
ical Assistan
ce
Legi
slat
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Dis
t. Fu
nds/
Dev
elop
men
t
Trai
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/Tec
hnic
al A
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tanc
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National Children’s Advocacy
Center
Collaborations R Us
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Death
Disease, Disability, &
Social Problems
Adoption of Health Risk Behaviors (Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Sexual
Promiscuity)
Social, Emotional , and Cognitive Impairment
Adverse Childhood ExperiencesChildhood Trauma
The ACE Study (Adverse Childhood Experience), conducted in 1998 , revealed a direct correlation between childhood trauma and the leading causes of death in adults.
Death
Disease, Disability, &
Social Problems
Adoption of Health Risk Behaviors (Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Sexual
Promiscuity)
Social, Emotional , and Cognitive Impairment
Adverse Childhood ExperiencesChildhood Trauma
CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTERS AND
MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS
ACCREDITATION STANDARDS Multidisciplinary Team Cultural Competency and Diversity Forensic Interviews Victim Support and Advocacy Medical Evaluation Mental Health Case Review Case Tracking Organizational Capacity Child Focused Setting
NCA STANDARD FOR VICTIM ADVOCACY
Victim support and advocacy services are routinely made available to all CAC clients and their non-offending family members as part of the multidisciplinary team response.
ESSENTIAL COMPONENT
Crisis intervention and ongoing support services are routinely available for children and their non-offending family members on-site or through linkage agreements with other appropriate agencies or providers.
ESSENTIAL COMPONENT
Education regarding the dynamics of abuse, the coordinated multidisciplinary response, treatment, and access to services is routinely available for children and their non-offending family members.
ESSENTIAL COMPONENT
Information regarding the rights of crime victims is routinely available to children and their non-offending family members and is consistent with legal, ethical and professional standards of practice.
ESSENTIAL COMPONENT
The CAC/MDT’s written documents include availability of victim support and advocacy services for all CAC clients.
RATED CRITERIA
A designated, trained individual(s) provides comprehensive, coordinated victim support and advocacy services including, but not limited to:
Information regarding dynamics of abuse & the MDT response, etc.
Updates on case status Assistance in accessing/obtaining victims rights as
outlined by law Court education, support and accompaniment Assistance with access to treatment and other
services such as protective orders, housing, public assistance, domestic violence intervention and transportation.
RATED CRITERIA
Procedures are in place to provide initial and on-going support and advocacy with the child and/or non-offending family members.
SOME ISSUES WITH VICTIM ADVOCATE ROLE AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
Role of the Victim Advocate not Clearly Defined
Role of the Victim Advocate Varies Widely
Victim Advocacy Services are Delivered in Multiple Ways
Qualifications of Victim Advocate Vary Widely
Role of Victim Advocate Accepted Differently within Different CAC’s and MDT’s
HOW TO GET A GRIP?!
How do we get a handle on what are the essential roles and responsibilities of a Victim Advocate?
Roles of other team members are pretty clear…..Medical, Mental Health, Child Protection Service, Law Enforcement, Prosecutor, Forensic Interviewer, CAC, etc.
FOCUS GROUP
Focus group held in Huntsville, October, 2009
Participants were chosen based upon their history of providing advocacy services within a CAC setting
Group was diverse in experience and geographic location (urban vs. rural, etc.)
GOALS OF FOCUS GROUP
Identify Roles and Responsibilities of the Victim Advocate Position
Identify Barriers to Providing Victim Advocacy Services
Identify Qualities Needed in a Victim Advocate and What Type of Training Would Offer Support
IDENTIFYING ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Sharing & Brainstorming Responsibilities Associated with Position
Divided Into: Pre Interview/Intake Interview/Medical Follow Up MDT Case Review/Case Decision Making Court Ongoing/Continuous Services
Rated Each Responsibility According to Importance
Came to an Agreement on Essential Responsibilities
PRE-INTERVIEW/INTAKEROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
GREET CHILD AT THE DOOR – FIRST CONTACT BUILD RAPPORT WITH FAMILY ORIENT FAMILY TO THE CAC AND WHAT ROLE THE CAC
PLAYS ALONG WITH THE MDT PROCESS COMPLETE INTAKE FORMS WITH PARENT ENSURE PARENT SIGNS ALL NECESSARY RELEASE
FORMS (ALLOWING VICTIM ADVOCATE TO TALK WITH THERAPIST, ETC.)
PROVIDE AND REVIEW INFORMATION PACKET WITH PARENT
PRE-INTERVIEW/INTAKEROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
ASSESS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUES SUBSTANCE ABUSE SCREENING/EVALUATION GATHER PSYCHO-SOCIAL INFORMATION,
DEMOGRAPHICS, ETC. CONDUCT A NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH THE
CHILD AND THE PARENT AND MAKE REFERRALS AS NECESSARY
CRISIS INTERVENTION PRE-INTERVIEW “STAFFING” COMMUNICATE WITH THE FORENSIC
INTERVIEWER REGARDING ANY ALARMING BEHAVIOR, INFORMATION OR “COACHING” THAT MAY BE TAKING PLACE
INTERVIEW/MEDICALROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
SIT WITH PARENT DURING INTERVIEW/EXAM
OBSERVE THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW OBSERVE PARENT’S INTERACTION EDUCATE/INFORM PARENTS ABOUT THE
NATURE OF THE INTERVIEW/MEDICAL EXAM
FOLLOW UPROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES PROVIDE SNACK & DRINK, ALONG WITH ITEM OF
COMFORT SUCH AS A TEDDY BEAR (post interview) DEVELOP CASE/SERVICE PLAN WITH FAMILY LOCATE AND ACCESS MEDICAL SERVICES REFER CHILD AND PARENT TO MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES ASSIST THE MDT IN GATHERING INFORMATION MAINTAIN CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION WITH
THE FAMILY ON A REGULARY SCHEDULED BASIS (ONCE PER WEEK FOR FIRST SIX WEEKS, THEN ONCE PER MONTH FOR AS LONG AS NEEDED
ASSIST IN COMPLETING PAPERWORK FOR VICTIM COMPENSATION, MEDICAID, ETC.
FOLLOW UPROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH MDT (OTHER AGENCIES) TO SOLICIT SYSTEM INFORMATION TO PASS ALONG TO THE FAMILY, AND TO ENTER INTO THE DATABASE.
SERVE AS A LIAISON BETWEEN INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES AND FAMILY
MAKE REFERRALS TO ANCELLORY RESOURCES (FOOD, SHELTER, DIAPERS, ETC.)
WORK WITH IMMIGRATION IF APPLICABLE MAKE REPORT TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AS
NECESSARY (NOC & DRUGS, ETC.)
MDT CASE REVIEWCASE DECISION MAKING
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
ATTEND CASE REVIEW REPORT TO MDT HOW CHILD DID BEFORE, DURING,
AND AFTER THE INTERVIEW REPORT TO MDT HOW THE FAMILY IS
RESPONDING TO THE CASE MANAGEMENT PLAN, ALONG WITH RELEVANT INTERACTION BETWEEN CHILD AND PARENT, INCLUDE FAMILY DYNAMICS (DEATH IN FAMILY, ETC.) AND ANY OUTSIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD HELP WITH THE CASE
IN ADDITION TO CASE REVIEW, ATTEND “ADVOCACY STAFFINGS” AND UPDATE THERAPIST
CASE CLOSEDROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
REVIEW/REINFORCE SAFETY PLAN PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT AS NECESSARY
THROUGH REFERRALS OR ON SITE AT THE CENTER
COURTROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
COURT PREPARATION/ COURT SCHOOL COURT ACCOMPANYMENT
ONGOING/CONTINUOUS SERVICESROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
CRISIS INTERVENTION CASE TRACKING/DOCUMENTATION CASE COORDINATOR/CHILD ADVOCATE/CASE
REVIEW/SUPERVISION MAINTAIN CLIENT CASE REVIEW SPREAD
SHEET (INTERVIEW DATE, BASIC DETAILS, ETC.)
PEER REVIEW
If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.
~ James Freeman Clarke ~
CONTACT INFORMATION
Southern Regional CACYvette Roszell, Outreach Coordinator800-747-8122yroszell@nationalcac.orgwww.srcac.org
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