CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER

Established in 1997 as a project of the Lucas County Child Abuse Task Force, the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) provides services to over 400 children each year. The CAC stresses coordination of investigation and intervention services by bringing together professionals and agencies as a multidisciplinary team to create a child-focused approach to child abuse cases. The goal is to ensure that children are not re-victimized by the very system designed to protect them. The CAC in Lucas County was one of the first CACs in the state and has the honor of being one of 26 programs in Ohio to have Full Member status in the National Children’s Alliance, the accrediting body for CACs nationwide.

Additionally, there are no fees for all of the services offered to families through the CAC. We are funded through generous grants and donations to provide support to children and their families.

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Goals

• To reduce the number of interviews child victims of sexual abuse are subjected to in the course of the investigation of allegations, prosecution, and treatment by a collaborative, team approach to interviews.
• To provide a safe, comfortable, child-friendly center where child sexual abuse interviews can take place. 
• To provide supportive services to child victims and their families as a way to help reduce the trauma and maximize families’ ability to help the child victim. 
• To promote education of professionals and other community members and contribute to research in the area of child victimization.

If you have any questions about our services, please feel free to contact us at 419.292.2927. ​

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Mission

The mission of the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is to provide the community with a coordinated, multidisciplinary, and sensitive approach to child abuse through a child-friendly center in which child abuse can be investigated. The CAC recognizes the need to reduce the trauma that children and families experience during the investigation and prosecution process.

DOWNLOAD THE CAC BROCHURE

RESOURCES

CHILDREN WHO WITNESS VIOLENCE

• ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY
• TRAUMA THERAPY
• SAFETY EDUCATION
• NON-OFFENDING CAREGIVERS
• STAFF

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MEET OUR THERAPY DOG, BOB!
Bob is here to provide emotional support and therapeutic benefits to the children with whom he works.

Example: A child who has no boundaries with people and will hug anyone after just meeting them. Explaining that the child should ask permission to hug a person or dog before doing it.  Teaching children about coping skills. ​Example: Writing in my diary, playing a game or taking a bath.

​WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A THERAPY DOG?

• Aids in rapport building with the professional adult and promotes engagement with the child
• Allows the child to role play, project, transfer, and reenact experiences with the animal while maintaining a safe emotional distance from other people
• Improves the self esteem of the child
• Provides nonjudgmental acceptance and attention to the child
• Provides safety, friendliness and a sense of normalcy to the therapy setting, which encourages spontaneous and natural communication. If the child sees the animal is safe, then the child will feel safe.

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*The information above comes from: Parish-Plass, N. (2008). Animal-assisted therapy with children suffering from insecure attachment due to abuse and neglect; A method to lower the risk of inter-generational transmission of abuse. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 13 (1), 7-30 ​

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

​Q Where does Bob live? 
A Bob lives with our CEO, Dr. Christie Jenkins, and her family! 

Q May I pet Bob?
A Absolutely! His favorite part to be scratched is his lower back. Please ask first, as he may be following a command from his handler. 

Q Does Bob work every day?  
A No. Bob works at the center 1-2 days a week. 

Q Does Bob do “normal” dog stuff? 
A Yes, of course. Bob has many fur sisters and brothers at home, as well as some human siblings, too! He also enjoys naps, walks, and LOTS of treats! ​

A MEMORIAL TO NALA, CAC'S RETIRED CERTIFIED THERAPY DOG
Nala was here to provide emotional support and therapeutic benefits to the children for many years. Unfortunately, Nala passed away in April 2023 after providing love and care to children for over 12 years. Nala was a blessing to those she served, including the children at the CAC, their families, and the staff at Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center. We miss her dearly, and we are grateful for all the time she was with us.

We offer short-term therapy to children and adolescents (ages 3-18) who have experienced sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, or emotional/verbal abuse. Our Trauma Therapy program is approximately 10-12 sessions with one of our trained therapists who use trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). Sessions vary in length anywhere from 45-60 minutes depending on the age of the child. We have both female and male staff members available to work with children who have experienced these types of abuse. If children are in need of long-term services following their sessions at this agency, therapists here will provide referrals for additional services.

Animal-assisted therapy is utilized on a case by case basis. All kids are screened to work with the therapy dog (Bob) and the therapist makes decision on who would be appropriate for working with the dog.

​In order to start services our staff would need to conduct an assessment with the caregiver(s) of the children coming in for services. We ask that this assessment includes only the caregiver(s) and that children are not present so that we can better explain our services and gather information. Individual sessions for the children to attend will be scheduled at the conclusion of the assessment.

For further questions about this program or to schedule an assessment, please contact us at 419.292.2927.

​Our Safety Education program teaches young children about safe and unsafe touches and ways to seek help from trusted adults. This program consists of four (4) individual sessions.

In order to start services our staff would need to conduct an assessment with the caregiver(s) of the children coming in for services. We ask that this assessment includes only the caregiver(s) and that children are not present so that we can better explain our services and gather information. Individual sessions for the children to attend will be scheduled at the conclusion of the assessment.

For further questions about this program or to schedule an assessment, please contact us at 419.292.2927.

​The Non-Offending Caregiver Education Class is an educational program for non-offending caregivers of sexually abused children.

This program consists of a 60-minute assessment followed by four (4) individual sessions lasting 60 minutes each and assists Non-Offending Caregivers in areas such as understanding the scope of child sexual abuse, recognizing indicators, acknowledging the impact that sexual abuse has on children and their families, communication, coping skills, and more.

​For further questions about this program or to schedule an assessment, please contact us at 419.292.2927.

CWWV Program Trauma Therapist
CAC Supervisor
Sara Sweet, LPCC-S
419.460.3835
[email protected]

Trauma Therapist
CAC Supervisor
Kelly Rupp, LISW-S
419.292.2927 ext. 302
​Google voice# 419.318.9178
[email protected]

​Victim & Family Advocate
position open


Trauma Therapist
Rachel Adler, LISW
419.292.2927 ext. 306
Google voice# 419.740.0276
[email protected]

Intake Coordinator
Beverly Barnhill
419.292.2927 ext. 300
[email protected]

• FORENSIC INTERVIEWS
• MEDICAL EXAMS

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​The CAC offers a child-friendly site where professionals conduct joint investigative interviews of child victims of abuse or other acts of violence. These interviews are conducted by law enforcement or children's services workers. The CAC does not schedule forensic interviews on our own, as these decisions are made by law enforcement or children's services. 

​​TThe CAC offers on-site non-acute exams with certified SANE nurses as well as off-site non-acute exams with Dr. Schlievert. The CAC has a complete medical examination room equipped with a Cortex Flo. The medical examination is a non-acute, non-invasive exam and nothing is inserted into the child. A Cortex Flo is a piece of equipment that magnifies and documents any visible injuries on the child, and no part of the equipment touches the child during the examination.

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