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
n/Di
st. F
unds
/Dev
elop
men
t
Trai
ning
/Tec
hnica
l Ass
istan
ce
National Children’s Advocacy
Center
Collaborations R Us
1995
1996
1997
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1999
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2001
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2005
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2009
2010
2011
2012
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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 [email protected]