10 Standards for Accreditation

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Standard 1: Multidisciplinary Team

A multidisciplinary team for response to child abuse allegations includes representation from law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, medical, mental health, victim advocacy, and Children's Advocacy Centers fields.

Standard 2: Cultural Competency & Diversity

The Children's Advocacy Center provides culturally competent services for all CAC clients throughout the life of the case.

Standard 3: Forensic Interviews

Forensic interviews are conducted in a manner that is legally sound, of a neutral, fact-finding nature, and are coordinated to avoid duplicative interviewing.

Standard 4: Victim Support & Advocacy

Victim support and advocacy services are provided to all CAC clients and their caregivers as part of the multidisciplinary team response.

Standard 5: Medical Evaluation

Specialized medical evaluation and treatment services are available to all CAC clients and coordinated as part of the multidisciplinary team response.

Standard 6: Mental Health

Evidence-based, trauma-focused mental health services, designed to meet the unique needs of the children and caregivers, are consistently available as part of the multidisciplinary response.

Standard 7: Case Review

A formal process in which multidisciplinary discussion and information sharing regarding the investigation, case status and services needed by the child and family is to occur on a routine basis.

Standard 8: Case Tracking

Children's Advocacy Centers must develop and implement a system for monitoring case progress and tracking case outcomes for all MDT components

Standard 9: Organizational Capacity

A designated legal entity responsible for program and fiscal operations has been established and implements basic sound administrative policies and procedures.

Standard 10: Child Focused Setting

The child-focused setting is comfortable, private, and both physically and psychologically safe for diverse populations of children and their family members.