VICTIM ADVOCACY 101

Defining Roles and Responsibilities

Yvette RoszellSouthern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center

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CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTERS ARE:Facility based programs which providecomprehensive, multidisciplinary services to children suspected of having been abused, particularly sexually abused.

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CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTERS Reduce trauma to children Improve the flow of information Hold offenders accountable Reduce burn-out

Forensic Interviewer Prosecution

Law

Enforcement

Child Protection

MissionPurpose

CAC

Medical

Vict

im

Advo

cacy

Mental H

ealth

The Model

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY 1985 – First CAC – National Children’s Advocacy

Center (NCAC), Huntsville, AL 1987 – National Children’s Alliance (NCA)

founded (Originally known as the National Network of CAC’s)

1995 – Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers established by US Department of Justice

REGIONAL CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTERS RCACs are training and technical assistance

resource centers for communities establishing or strengthening a CAC and are funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, OJJDP.

The four RCACs are assigned to specific geographic areas and work in partnership with NCA to further the development and growth of strong CACs across the country.

Southern RCAC 210 Pratt Avenue NE Huntsville, AL 35801 256-327-3752 Cym Doggett, Project Director

Northeast RCAC 4 Terry Drive, Suite 16 Newton, PA 18940 Anne Lynn, Project Director (215)-860-3111

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Regional Children's Advocacy Centers

Scale LegendMile(s)

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STATE CHAPTER ORGANIZATIONS Legislative issues Distribution of state funds Training Technical Assistance Support Development

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NATIONAL CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE National membership and accrediting organization

for Children’s Advocacy Centers. Mission: to promote and support communities in

providing a coordinated investigation and comprehensive response to child victims of abuse.

Awarded 8.7 million in grants during 2009.

Local CAC/MDT

And Chapters

National Children’s Alliance

Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers

Chapters

Accreditation/Standards/Administer

Grants

Training & Techn ical A

ssistance

Legi

slatio

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Trai

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National Children’s Advocacy

Center

Collaborations R Us

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Death

Disease, Disability, &

Social Problems

Adoption of Health Risk Behaviors (Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Sexual Promiscuity)

Social, Emotional , and Cognitive Impairment

Adverse Childhood ExperiencesChildhood Trauma

The ACE Study (Adverse Childhood Experience), conducted in 1998 , revealed a direct correlation between childhood trauma and the leading causes of death in adults.

Death

Disease, Disability, &

Social Problems

Adoption of Health Risk Behaviors (Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Sexual Promiscuity)

Social, Emotional , and Cognitive Impairment

Adverse Childhood ExperiencesChildhood Trauma

CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTERS AND

MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS

ACCREDITATION STANDARDS Multidisciplinary Team Cultural Competency and Diversity Forensic Interviews Victim Support and Advocacy Medical Evaluation Mental Health Case Review Case Tracking Organizational Capacity Child Focused Setting

NCA STANDARD FOR VICTIM ADVOCACY

Victim support and advocacy services are routinely made available to all CAC clients and their non-offending family members as part of the multidisciplinary team response.

ESSENTIAL COMPONENTCrisis intervention and ongoing support services are routinely available for children and their non-offending family members on-site or through linkage agreements with other appropriate agencies or providers.

ESSENTIAL COMPONENTEducation regarding the dynamics of abuse, the coordinated multidisciplinary response, treatment, and access to services is routinely available for children and their non-offending family members.

ESSENTIAL COMPONENTInformation regarding the rights of crime victims is routinely available to children and their non-offending family members and is consistent with legal, ethical and professional standards of practice.

ESSENTIAL COMPONENTThe CAC/MDT’s written documents include availability of victim support and advocacy services for all CAC clients.

RATED CRITERIAA designated, trained individual(s) provides comprehensive, coordinated victim support and advocacy services including, but not limited to:

Information regarding dynamics of abuse & the MDT response, etc.

Updates on case status Assistance in accessing/obtaining victims rights as

outlined by law Court education, support and accompaniment Assistance with access to treatment and other services

such as protective orders, housing, public assistance, domestic violence intervention and transportation.

RATED CRITERIAProcedures are in place to provide initial and on-going support and advocacy with the child and/or non-offending family members.

SOME ISSUES WITH VICTIM ADVOCATE ROLE AND

RESPONSIBILITIESRole of the Victim Advocate not Clearly

DefinedRole of the Victim Advocate Varies

WidelyVictim Advocacy Services are Delivered

in Multiple WaysQualifications of Victim Advocate Vary

WidelyRole of Victim Advocate Accepted

Differently within Different CAC’s and MDT’s

HOW TO GET A GRIP?!How do we get a handle on what are the essential roles and responsibilities of a Victim Advocate?Roles of other team members are pretty clear…..Medical, Mental Health, Child Protection Service, Law Enforcement, Prosecutor, Forensic Interviewer, CAC, etc.

FOCUS GROUPFocus group held in Huntsville, October, 2009Participants were chosen based upon their history of providing advocacy services within a CAC settingGroup was diverse in experience and geographic location (urban vs. rural, etc.)

GOALS OF FOCUS GROUP Identify Roles and Responsibilities of the

Victim Advocate Position

Identify Barriers to Providing Victim Advocacy Services

Identify Qualities Needed in a Victim Advocate and What Type of Training Would Offer Support

IDENTIFYING ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES Sharing & Brainstorming Responsibilities

Associated with Position Divided Into:

Pre Interview/Intake Interview/Medical Follow Up MDT Case Review/Case Decision Making Court Ongoing/Continuous Services

Rated Each Responsibility According to Importance

Came to an Agreement on Essential Responsibilities

PRE-INTERVIEW/INTAKEROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

GREET CHILD AT THE DOOR – FIRST CONTACT BUILD RAPPORT WITH FAMILY ORIENT FAMILY TO THE CAC AND WHAT ROLE THE CAC

PLAYS ALONG WITH THE MDT PROCESS COMPLETE INTAKE FORMS WITH PARENT ENSURE PARENT SIGNS ALL NECESSARY RELEASE

FORMS (ALLOWING VICTIM ADVOCATE TO TALK WITH THERAPIST, ETC.)

PROVIDE AND REVIEW INFORMATION PACKET WITH PARENT

PRE-INTERVIEW/INTAKEROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ASSESS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUES SUBSTANCE ABUSE SCREENING/EVALUATION GATHER PSYCHO-SOCIAL INFORMATION,

DEMOGRAPHICS, ETC. CONDUCT A NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH THE

CHILD AND THE PARENT AND MAKE REFERRALS AS NECESSARY

CRISIS INTERVENTION PRE-INTERVIEW “STAFFING” COMMUNICATE WITH THE FORENSIC

INTERVIEWER REGARDING ANY ALARMING BEHAVIOR, INFORMATION OR “COACHING” THAT MAY BE TAKING PLACE

INTERVIEW/MEDICALROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

SIT WITH PARENT DURING INTERVIEW/EXAM

OBSERVE THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW OBSERVE PARENT’S INTERACTION EDUCATE/INFORM PARENTS ABOUT THE

NATURE OF THE INTERVIEW/MEDICAL EXAM

FOLLOW UPROLES AND

RESPONSIBILITIES PROVIDE SNACK & DRINK, ALONG WITH ITEM OF

COMFORT SUCH AS A TEDDY BEAR (post interview) DEVELOP CASE/SERVICE PLAN WITH FAMILY LOCATE AND ACCESS MEDICAL SERVICES REFER CHILD AND PARENT TO MENTAL HEALTH

SERVICES ASSIST THE MDT IN GATHERING INFORMATION MAINTAIN CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION WITH

THE FAMILY ON A REGULARY SCHEDULED BASIS (ONCE PER WEEK FOR FIRST SIX WEEKS, THEN ONCE PER MONTH FOR AS LONG AS NEEDED

ASSIST IN COMPLETING PAPERWORK FOR VICTIM COMPENSATION, MEDICAID, ETC.

FOLLOW UPROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH MDT (OTHER AGENCIES) TO SOLICIT SYSTEM INFORMATION TO PASS ALONG TO THE FAMILY, AND TO ENTER INTO THE DATABASE.

SERVE AS A LIAISON BETWEEN INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES AND FAMILY

MAKE REFERRALS TO ANCELLORY RESOURCES (FOOD, SHELTER, DIAPERS, ETC.)

WORK WITH IMMIGRATION IF APPLICABLE MAKE REPORT TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AS

NECESSARY (NOC & DRUGS, ETC.)

MDT CASE REVIEWCASE DECISION MAKING

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ATTEND CASE REVIEW REPORT TO MDT HOW CHILD DID BEFORE, DURING,

AND AFTER THE INTERVIEW REPORT TO MDT HOW THE FAMILY IS

RESPONDING TO THE CASE MANAGEMENT PLAN, ALONG WITH RELEVANT INTERACTION BETWEEN CHILD AND PARENT, INCLUDE FAMILY DYNAMICS (DEATH IN FAMILY, ETC.) AND ANY OUTSIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD HELP WITH THE CASE

IN ADDITION TO CASE REVIEW, ATTEND “ADVOCACY STAFFINGS” AND UPDATE THERAPIST

CASE CLOSEDROLES AND

RESPONSIBILITIES REVIEW/REINFORCE SAFETY PLAN PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT AS NECESSARY

THROUGH REFERRALS OR ON SITE AT THE CENTER

COURTROLES AND

RESPONSIBILITIES COURT PREPARATION/ COURT SCHOOL COURT ACCOMPANYMENT

ONGOING/CONTINUOUS SERVICESROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

CRISIS INTERVENTION CASE TRACKING/DOCUMENTATION CASE COORDINATOR/CHILD ADVOCATE/CASE

REVIEW/SUPERVISION MAINTAIN CLIENT CASE REVIEW SPREAD

SHEET (INTERVIEW DATE, BASIC DETAILS, ETC.)

PEER REVIEW

If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.

~ James Freeman Clarke ~

CONTACT INFORMATIONSouthern Regional CACYvette Roszell, Outreach Coordinator800-747-8122yroszell@nationalcac.orgwww.srcac.org