Family Advocacy

Our Family Advocacy team is dedicated to providing family and victim support to help reduce trauma for the child and non-offending caregivers/family members.  A small example of this is our Family Room, which is pictured to the left.  This is a gathering place in our center where children can play (supervised by our volunteers) while caregivers and other family members have the opportunity ask questions and get information from our advocacy staff.  
Coordinated victim advocacy services encourage access to and participation in investigation, prosecution, treatment and support services. Children and non-offending caregivers/family members in crisis need assistance in navigating through the various systems they will encounter.  In the aftermath of victimization, the child and caregivers/family members may feel a loss of control.  Our team is here to provide assistance through education, information and support.

Family advocacy and victim support may include, but is not limited to:

• Providing crisis intervention and support at all stages of investigation and prosecution
• Attending and/or coordinating interviews and/or case review
• Providing education about the coordinated, multidisciplinary response
• Providing updates to the non-offending caregiver/family members on case status
• Providing updates to the MDT on caregiver/family status
• Assessing the child's and non-offending caregiver/family's attitudes and feelings about participation in the investigation/prosecution
• Providing and/or assisting with court education/support/accompaniment
• Assisting in procuring concrete services (e.g., housing, protective orders, domestic violence intervention, crime victims compensation)
• Providing referrals for mental health and medical treatment, if not provided at the center

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