Shore Health System - Children's Advocacy Center

What is it?

The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) provides an effective, collaborative response to investigation of child abuse in the Mid-Shore region. A partnership between the Talbot County Department of Social Services and Shore Health System, the CAC is located centrally at Memorial Hospital in Easton, Maryland. The facility offers a neutral environment for investigative team interviews, medical examinations and advocacy services for abused children while pursuing the prosecution of offenders.

CAC enhances the response to suspected child abuse cases by increasing communication among professional agencies. Coordinated efforts work to ensure that victims of child sexual abuse/assault, and their non-offending family members, have access to support and services in a safe, culturally respectful environment. Staff includes child protection workers, local law enforcement, the State’s Attorney’s office, medical and mental health professionals, and victim advocates, who share information and resources to serve the best needs of the child. The investigative team may meet weekly to review interviews, discuss results of medical exams and discuss the progress of the case.

The Talbot County Children’s Advocacy Center, an accredited member of the National Children's Alliance, has investigated more than 450 cases of child abuse in a five-county area since its creation in 2003.

The CAC is supported by grants through the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP). The Victims of Criminal Acts grant supports the regional medical program. Other GOCCP grants supply funds for the mental health therapist and the family advocate. The Maryland Children’s Alliance provides yearly funding for staff enrichment and client support. In January 2012, the CAC was awarded a grant through the Family Tree to participate in a prevention program, the “Enough Abuse” campaign. CAC staff and members of the Advisory Board will educate the community on ways to address child sexual abuse in the Talbot County community, utilizing the Enough Abuse training. Talbot Community Connections, a non-profit foundation dedicated to the unmet needs of the population served by Talbot County Department of Social Services, also provides supplemental funding for the CAC.

Regional partners from Kent, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Caroline and Dorchester counties meet quarterly to discuss best practices in response to child sexual abuse, as well as CAC development and the collective sharing of resources for our children and families in all our communities.

Who is it for?

Children and families of Talbot, Dorchester, Caroline, Queen Anne’s and Kent counties.

Why do they do it?

The CAC provides the most effective, least traumatic way for our most vulnerable citizens to receive necessary care while bringing offenders to justice. The setting allows the child to tell about his/her experience only once (rather than in repeated sessions with separate agencies) and to only one interviewer. The other agency representatives are all assembled at one time in an adjacent room, observing via a video system, which keeps the setting child friendly and prevents further trauma. Questions from the remote viewers are transmitted via a sound system to the interviewer in the room, as necessary.

Impact

Since the inception of the CAC, services to victims and their caregivers have grown. The CAC mental health professional facilitates caregiver support groups and offers trauma-focused therapy to child victims. The multi-disciplinary response to child sexual abuse has also been enhanced. The multi-disciplinary team often expands to include professionals otherwise not a regular part of the team, who are able to provide services that will ensure that the victim and his/her family are afforded the opportunity to recover from the trauma that was experienced.

Contact: Linda Mastro
Director, Corporate Communications
Telephone: 410-822-1000, ext. 5507
E-mail: lmastro@shorehealth.org