Children's Advocacy Center

Description

The mission of the Children's Advocacy Center is to lessen the emotional trauma to children during the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases.

The mission of the Children's Advocacy Center is to lessen the emotional trauma to children during the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases, and to improve the system's response to child abuse by uniting the efforts of public agencies as well as enlisting community support. The best interest of the child is always the first concern. The Center provides a homelike, child-centered environment where children who have reported abuse and their protective caregivers can go for evaluation, crisis intervention, evidence gathering, and counseling. The Center is a non-profit organization.

The Children's Advocacy Center, Travis County District Attorney's Office, Child Protective Services, Austin Police Department, Travis County Sheriff's Department, and the Austin Children's Hospital form the Child Protection Team. The Child Protection Team's investigation of reported cases of sexual abuse and serious physical injuries begin at the Center. The Center provides crisis intervention, counseling, and an educational process that enables the family to begin to recover from their trauma.