Your 1st Visit

How to Report Abuse

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WITHOUT CAC

Without a CAC, the child may end up having to tell the worst story of his or her life over and over again, to doctors, police, lawyers, therapists, investigators, judges, and others. They may not get the help they need to heal once the investigation is over, either.

WITH CAC

When police or child protective services believe a child is being abused, the child is brought to the CAC—a safe, child-focused environment—by a caregiver or other “safe” adult. At the CAC, the child tells their story once to a trained interviewer who knows the right questions to ask. Then, based on the interview, a multidisciplinary team (MDT) that includes medical professionals, law enforcement, mental health, prosecution, child protective services, victim advocacy, and other professionals make decisions together about how to help the child. Finally, they offer a wide range of services like therapy, medical exams, courtroom preparation, victim advocacy, case management, and more.

Your First Visit

You and your child have been asked to come to Baton Rouge Children’s Advocacy Center –because child abuse has been suspected and reported and is now being investigated. The CAC houses the professionals who will help you and your child with the investigation, advocacy, and healing process.

The first step in the investigation is usually a forensic interview. CAC interviewers are compassionate and highly trained in professional forensic interviewing protocols. They talk to children and teens at their developmental level. Interviews are neutral and child-friendly.

You will also meet with an investigator. We work closely with local law enforcement agencies and the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services to ensure the investigative needs of your family are met.

When you come to the Baton Rouge Children’s Advocacy Center, you’ll learn about other services, like therapy and advocacy, which may help you and your child during this time. Our clinicians are highly trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, an evidence-based treatment designed to significantly reduce the impact of childhood trauma.

In some cases, a forensic medical exam will be needed. Forensic medical exams are conducted at the Audrey Hepburn Care Center at the satellite office in Baton Rouge. If you are told that your child needs a forensic medical exam, your investigator or advocate will help you schedule an appointment and guide you through the process of the forensic medical exam.

Baton Rouge Children’s Advocacy Center is based on a nationally recognized model of care. The child advocacy center model has been shown to be a more child-friendly, effective community response to reported child abuse.

We ask parents and caregivers about their experience at the center regularly. Here is what some caregivers had to say:

This is where my family came and were healed.

The staff were professional and friendly and answered all of our questions.

Having someone walk me through this process was helpful. I know I don’t have to do this alone, but I have a team who supports me and my child.

I am grateful to the staff for helping my child.

I wish this existed when I was a child.