Childrens Advocacy Center Of Collin County Inc

THE MISSION OF CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF COLLIN COUNTY IS TO PROVIDE SAFETY, HEALING, AND JUSTICE TO CHILDREN VICTIMIZED BY ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

CLINICAL DEPARTMENT EXPENSES - THE CENTER'S CLINICAL DEPARTMENT OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION METHODS FOR TRAUMATIZED CHILDREN, INCLUDING ART THERAPY, MUSIC THERAPY, AND PLAY THERAPY, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP THERAPIES. SUPPORT GROUPS ARE ALSO PROVIDED FOR GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN AND MOTHERS OF SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS. THE PROGRAM IS STAFFED BY LICENSED THERAPISTS AS WELL AS GRADUATE LEVEL INTERNS. IN 2022-2023, 825 CLIENTS RECEIVED 11,720 THERAPY SERVICES. THEGRADUATE LEVEL INTERNS PROVIDED 6,386 PRO-BONO HOURS OF THERAPY SERVICES. ALLSERVICES ARE OFFERED AT NO COST, FOR AS LONG AS THE VICTIM NEEDS HELP. THE CLINICAL DEPARTMENT PROVIDES THESE SERVICES IN-PERSON AND THROUGH TELEHEALTH.

) FAMILY ADVOCATE AND SUPPORT SERVICES - THE FAMILY ADVOCATE PROGRAM HAS TWO PHASES, SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM. THE LONG-TERM FAMILY ADVOCATES GREET EACH CLIENT AT THEIR FIRST VISIT TO THE CENTER, EXPLAIN THE PROCESS, AND PROVIDE SUPPORT. IF THE CHILD MAKES A DISCLOSURE OF ABUSE, THE LONG-TERM FAMILY ADVOCATE PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY UNTIL THE CASE GOES TO CRIMINAL TRIAL, WHICH CAN TAKE UP TO TWO YEARS. THE LONG-TERM FAMILY ADVOCATE ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT WITH RESOURCES FOR FAMILY NEEDS DURING THE CRISIS.THE SHORT-TERM FAMILY ADVOCATE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON SHORT TERM STABILITY AND SUPPORT, WHICH IS ACHIEVED USING A STRENGTHS AND EMPOWERMENT MODEL. FOLLOWING A REFERRAL FROM THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM, A COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT IS CONDUCTED TO IDENTIFY STRENGTHS AND NEEDS OF THE CAREGIVER REGARDING HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, MEDICAL CARE, CHILDCARE, HOUSEHOLD FINANCES, AND PARENTING SKILLS. CLIENTS ARE ASSISTED WITHBUDGETING AND JOB SKILLS COUNSELING, ASSISTANCE WITH RESUMES, JOB SEARCH,INTERVIEWING SKILLS AND FILING FOR CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION (CVC). FAMILY ADVOCATE INTERNS ARE STUDENT INTERNS FROM LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WHO ASSESSCLIENT NEEDS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO THENON-OFFENDING CAREGIVERS OF THE VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE. INTERNS AND STAFF FAMILY ADVOCATE CASEWORKERS PROVIDED 13,932 SERVICES TO 3,684 CLIENTS AND PERFORMED 9,952 PRO-BONO HOURS OF CASE WORK. OUTCOME MEASURES DEMONSTRATE THAT 80% OF CLIENTS SERVED HAD 96% OF THEIR NEEDS MET THROUGH THE PROGRAM. BACK-TO-SCHOOL FAIR: IN AUGUST 2023, CACCC HELD A HYBRID BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR, WITH BACKPACKS, SHOES, AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES PROVIDED IN A DRIVE-THRU FORMAT. SNACKS AND GAMES WERE AVAILABLE OUTSIDE FOR THOSE THAT FELT COMFORTABLE PARTICIPATING.

) THE CACCC IS ONE OF THE ONLY CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS IN THE NATION TO CO-HOUSEALL OF THE PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN CHILD ABUSE CASES IN ONE LOCATION. THISINCLUDES CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES CASEWORKERS FOR COLLIN COUNTY, AND DETECTIVESFROM THE COLLIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, PLANO, ALLEN, MELISSA, ANNA, MCKINNEY, FRISCO AND WYLIE POLICE DEPARTMENTS. ALL MEMBERS OF THE TEAM WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH CACCC STAFF TO ENSURE CHILDREN ARE SAFE, HELP THEM HEAL, AND ENSURE JUSTICE IS SERVED. CACCC STAFF FACILITATES MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM STAFFINGS BI-MONTHLY WITH ALL PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN THE CASES TO ENSURE THE CASE IS PROGRESSING AND NOTHING FALLS THROUGH THE CRACKS. FREE TRAINING IS PROVIDED FOR ALL TEAM MEMBERS SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR ON SUCH TOPICS AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING, TESTIFYING IN COURT, AND CYBERCRIMES. CACCC ALSO COLLABORATES WITH THE COLLIN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO FACILITATE THE "COLLIN KIDS IN COURT PROGRAM" FOUR TIMES A YEAR. THIS PROGRAM HELPS CHILDREN THAT HAVE TO TESTIFY IN CRIMINAL TRIALS AGAINST THEIR OFFENDER UNDERSTAND THE COURT PROCESS AND LESSEN THEIR FEAR. IT ALSO HELPS PARENTS UNDERSTAND HOW TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN DURING THIS TRAUMATIC TIME. ALL MEMBERS OF THE COURT TEAM ARE INVOLVED, INCLUDING JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, COURT REPORTERS, AND BAILIFFS. VOLUNTEERS ARE THE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM THAT MAKES UP CACCC. THE CACCC ALSO HAS A COMMUNITY EDUCATION INITIATIVE, AND LAST YEAR PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT ABUSE AND INTERNET SAFETY TO 11,137 CHILDREN AND ADULTS. 5,272 HOURS WERE DONATED BY VOLUNTEERS TO SPECIAL EVENTS, CHILD-CARE, CLERICAL, AND OTHER CACCC ACTIVITIES. NUMEROUS CORPORATIONS ALSO VOLUNTEER. THE CENTER ALSO HAS A VOLUNTEER PUPPET TROOP THAT EDUCATES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SECOND GRADE STUDENTS ABOUT WAYS TO STAY SAFE FROM ABUSE. IN 2022-2023 THIS PUPPET TROOP CONDUCTED 73 PERFORMANCES IN 43 SCHOOLS FOR 10,790 KINDERGARTEN, 1ST AND 2ND GRADE CHILDREN. PEDIATRIC MEDICAL EXAMS ARE PROVIDED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER PLANO (CMC). EXAMS ARE PROVIDED AT THE REACH CLINIC AT CMC. CMC IS THE LEADING EXPERT IN CHILD TRAUMA. IN FY 2022-2023, 131 PEDIATRIC MEDICAL EXAMS WERE PERFORMED.