Frequently Asked Questions
What is a CAC?
No single individual, agency or discipline has all the knowledge, skills and resources needed to provide the various types of assistance needed by child abuse victims and their families.
Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) seek to combine the experience and expertise of Child Protective Investigative Teams (CPITs) in Tennessee, the Department of Children’s Services Child Protective Services, Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, Medical and Mental Health to address the needs of children. The process of sharing physical space, time and information allows the entire team to maintain focus on the child. Because cooperating professionals reduce the number of interviews, observe the victim together and hold joint staffings, the process is much less frightening to the child victims. By eliminating duplication of effort and needless delays and by assuring cooperative follow-up, local centers improve effectiveness of all agencies, some of which formerly may have worked in isolation.
For children who have been abused, knowing there are sensitive and responsive adults who will help can make all the difference in the world.