About Child Advocacy Center of the 3rd Judicial District
Our Mission
At the Child Advocacy Center of the 3rd Judicial District, we validate children's voices, support families, and empower children.
What is the CAC?
The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) is a safe, child-focused place where children who may have experienced abuse or neglect can share their story. Instead of navigating a confusing and often frightening system, children come to the CAC to be heard, supported, and protected.
At a CAC, children talk with a specially trained interviewer who knows how to ask the right questions in a way that doesn’t retraumatize them. From there, a team of professionals—including law enforcement, child protective services, medical staff, mental health providers, and family advocates—works together to determine the best path forward. This collaborative model is known as the Child Protective Investigative Team (CPIT), and it’s central to how CACs operate.
Why CAC's Matter
Without a CAC, a child might have to repeat their story multiple times to police, teachers, doctors, attorneys, and others—often in intimidating settings like police stations or courtrooms. This can cause additional trauma and may even harm the investigation.
CACs reduce that trauma by providing a single, child-friendly place for the child to be interviewed and supported. By bringing together all the professionals involved, CACs help ensure stronger cases, faster healing, and a more compassionate response to child abuse.