What We Do

What is a Child Advocacy Center?
Child Advocacy Centers are a nation-wide program which provide a safe, child friendly setting for children to talk with caring adults. The CAC provides a place in which a team of trained professionals from multiple agencies evaluate children who may have been abused. The team includes, but is not limited to the County Prosecutor’s office, local law enforcement, CPS, mental health providers, forensic interviewers, medical staff from the Providence Abuse Intervention Center, and victim advocates. Monarch Children’s Justice and Advocacy Center is based in Thurston County, and oversees two satellite centers, Safe and Sound Child Advocacy Center in Mason County, and Youth Advocacy Center in Lewis County.

Does this mean that my child was abused?
Not necessarily. When allegations of abuse are made, the multidisciplinary team (MDT) has a mandate to look into these concerns thoroughly. Sometimes these complaints are substantiated, and other times they are not. Interviews are done in a manner that is neutral and are not done to “prove” abuse occurred. A forensic interview is only one piece of an entire investigation. Other sources of information are considered and reviewed to ensure the safety of your child.

Monarch Children’s Justice Advocacy Center, in conjunction with their partner agencies, offers a wide range of services at no cost to child victims, their families, and adult suvivors including:

Investigation

• • Forensic Interviews
  • Medical Evaluations
  • Multidisciplinary Case Staffing
  • Case Tracking

Therapy

• • Primary victims (child, adolescent and adult)
  • Family members and siblings
  • Individual, group, couples, and family therapy

Education and Prevention

• • Community Outreach and Education
  • Professional Training

Advocacy

• • Information and Referral Services
  • Multidisciplinary Team Staffing
  • Victim Advocacy