The Children’s Advocacy Center provides professional and comprehensive forensic interviews of child abuse allegations. The goal is to reduce the trauma to the child by minimizing the number of interviews for evidence collection. We do this through a multidisciplinary team approach including coordination with:
- Local prosecution
- Law enforcement
- Forensic medical evaluators
- Child protection
- Case management
- Advocacy
- Mental health linkages
Child appropriate/child friendly facility
- A multidisciplinary team
- Organizational capacity
- Cultural competency and diversity
- Medical intervention
- Forensic interviews
- Therapeutic intervention
- Victim support and advocacy
- Case review, tracking and high standards of care
Forensic Interviewing
Our agency provides a comfortable, child-friendly setting for these interviews to take place. A forensic interview room with adjoining observation room provides “state of the art” video and audio recording of the child’s testimony, with minimal intrusion on the child. A child forensic interview specialist conducts the interview, with special attention paid to providing a calming, developmentally sensitive, neutral, and safe environment for the child.
Members of the team observe the interview via closed circuit television and communicate with the interviewer before and during the interview process. This approach allows each agency to realize their respective goals yet minimizes the number of times the child must be interviewed. Recording the interview reduces inconsistent statements and often leads to case settlement which also reduces trauma to children. Research has validated the long-held belief that when interactions with children are age-appropriate and provided in a supportive manner, children are more likely to provide accurate and truthful information to investigators, clinicians and other professionals.
Additionally, a higher rate of convictions of perpetrators is realized due to thorough and compelling interviews, less chance of “recantation” by the child (since the interview has been recorded), and less chance of a child having to testify in court.
Advocacy
The CAC’s victim advocates meet with children and non-offending family members to provide resources and referrals for counseling while at the CAC. Advocates continue to assist children and families in the weeks and months after their visit to the Center. Whether it’s locating additional resources (food, clothing, legal services, etc.) or preparing victims for a trial in court, advocates are a pillar of support for families during an already difficult time.
Calming Cove
What is the calming cove and why did we create it?
The Calming Cove is a serene sensory retreat designed to support the well-being of children and families.
Inspired by the soothing qualities of a secluded seaside cove, this space offers a peaceful escape from the stress and intensity that often accompanies difficult moments.
With ocean inspired textures, calming colors, and gentle sounds, the Calming Cove engages the senses in ways that promote grounding, regulation, and comfort. This space is thoughtfully designed to meet emotional and sensory needs with compassion and care.
At the heart of the Calming Cove is a simple truth: everyone deserves a safe, peaceful space to make a lasting difference in emotional resilience, healing, and overall well-being.
What does it offer?
The Calming Cove is a dedicated sensory space designed for children with disabilities and sensory processing needs to offer comfort and calm during difficult moments. With soothing sensory tools to support emotional regulation and well-being this space offers a gentle, healing atmosphere.
- Ocean themed visuals and colors
- Relaxing ocean sounds and white noise to reduce overstimulation
- Cozy seating and weighted items for comfort and grounding
- Tactile sensory tools: sand, shells, and other textures
- Inclusive design for all ages and abilities
Safe Space Therapy
Safe Space Therapy is our mental health services department where children and their families may seek treatment after visiting our center for the forensic interviews. Our therapist can conduct diagnostic assessments, risk assessments, and needs assessments with the children to determine what support and resources they will be connected to, in order to advocate for the family’s long term healing. Our therapist also provides weekly treatment for children who experience issues such as depression, anxiety, aggression, post traumatic stress disorder, problematic sexual behavior, suicidality, and more due to their trauma. Some options for therapy at our center include trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), play therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), psychodynamic therapy, or family systems therapy (FST). Early intervention with therapy can be an important and necessary tool to help children overcome the impacts of complex trauma by teaching them healthy coping skills, processing memories, improving self-esteem, developing safety plans, and exploring their goals for the future. This treatment program will allow children to begin their healing journey as early as a week after their forensic interview, which will minimize their risk of developing long term trauma-related mental health issues.
PPT
The CAC is in partnership with, Pet Prescription Team to provide volunteer dog handlers and therapy dogs to greet and wait with children and their families before a forensic interview. Therapy dogs empower victims and provide emotional support. There is a body of scientific evidence proving dogs impact our blood pressure and other health indicators in a positive way. Minimizing stress and reducing anxiety for victims and their families is consistent with the CAC’s mission. Therapy dogs are routinely used at hospitals and airports to relieve stress for patients and travelers. The CAC is proud to be the first child advocacy center in Los Angeles County to begin this kind of program.