Child Advocacy Centers and Caregivers Partner

Child Advocacy Centers and Caregivers Partner for Positive Outcomes

WRITTEN BY SAGE LAMBERT

Have you ever wondered what happens when a child in your community is sexually or physically abused? While no one wants to think about it, it’s important to understand the services available. You never know when you, a friend or family member may need it.

Child Advocacy Centers (CAC) exist across the country and provide a safe place where children can receive coordinated care and services following allegations of abuse. In 2021, there were 939 accredited CACs in the United States. In Montana, there are 10 accredited CACs, with more working toward accreditation. The Gallatin County CAC, a program of Help Center, Inc., opened in 2015. Located in Bozeman, the space is a converted condo, providing a non-threatening and welcoming location for children and families. In this space, law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, victim advocates, mental health professionals and medical professionals work collaboratively during the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases. At the CAC, children and families receive forensic interviews, support and advocacy services, traumainformed mental health services and referrals to specialized medical exams.

A family's interaction with CAC begins when law enforcement or child protective services (CPS) receive a report of suspected child abuse. Local law enforcement agencies and CPS work together to respond to these allegations to avoid duplication of interviews and services. This collaborative approach to the investigation, prosecution and treatment of child abuse is evidence-based and helps reduce trauma and improve outcomes for the child and family.

In addition to providing support and information in the event of an abuse allegation, the counselor-advocates at the CAC can also help to provide information on and facilitate conversations on topics of body safety. Body safety covers a wide range of topics including talking to your child about their body and personal boundaries, helping them to identify safe adults and taking steps to ensure that children are in safe environments with safe caregivers.

So, what can you as a caregiver or parent do to prevent abuse? Parents and caregivers can educate children about their bodies and healthy boundaries and empower them to feel comfortable asserting those boundaries. Some of the steps you can take to help include using the correct names for all body parts (including genitals) when kids are learning to identify them. Having the correct names for body parts allows a child to effectively communicate when talking about their bodies.

Caregivers should have regular conversations about “OK” and “not OK” touches, or “private part rules.” Discuss with your child that a medical provider may need to see or touch private parts of their body, and this can be OK. Similarly, a caregiver may need to help younger children clean or use the restroom. Help your child to understand that once they can use the restroom and bathe on their own, they should not accept help with these activities from adults or other children. Outside of these situations, no one should ask to see or touch the private parts of their body. Let your child know that it is never OK for another person to ask the child to look at or touch that person’s private parts. As with other rules, kids will need regular reminders about private part rules.

Another step caregivers can take to empower children is to teach them that it is OK for them to say no to hugs, kisses or other physical displays of affection, even from family members. Caregivers may need to help other adults understand and respect their child’s boundary. This can look something like “My child let you know they didn’t want to give hugs right now; you can ask for a high five instead.” This helps to give young children power and autonomy over their own bodies.

Finally, parents can speak with their children about the difference between good and bad secrets. A secret that has a time limit, like a surprise birthday party, is good because it isn’t one that is kept for a long time. If a child is asked to keep a secret forever, it is not OK. Throughout these conversations, caregivers should help children identify the safe adults in their life and encourage them to tell one of these trusted adults if something doesn’t feel right.

Ultimately, child safety is an adult responsibility and caregivers can take steps to ensure that their children are being looked after by safe caregivers in a safe environment. These steps include things like asking your babysitter for a background check and making sure that any programs your child attends requires background checks, interviews and reference checks for any adult who has access to children. Observe your children with others and trust your gut – if you are uncomfortable with the way someone is interacting with your child, step in!

» If you need to report child abuse or neglect, please call the 24/7 Montana Child & Family Services number at 866-820-5437.

» To learn more about the Gallatin County CAC, visit: www. bozemanhelpcenter.org

» To learn more about the Children’s Alliance of Montana: www. childrensalliancemt.org

Sage Lambert is the Gallatin County Child Advocacy Center Program Manager.