Childrens Advocacy Center

OUR MISSION IS TO HELP AND HEAL CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED BY ABUSE AND NEGLECT. BECAUSE EVERY CHILD DESERVES A VOICE, WE PROVIDE VITAL SERVICES WHEN THEY NEED IT THE MOST.

PROGRAM 1 - COMMUNITY CLOSET & FOOD PANTRY ESTABLISHED IN NOVEMBER 2020, THE COMMUNITY CLOSET AND FOOD PANTRY (CLOSET) PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF CHILD SEX ABUSE AND SEVERE NEGLECT VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. CONVENIENTLY LOCATED ONSITE AT THE SOUTHERN NEVADA CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER (SNCAC), WHICH IS PART OF THE CHILD HAVEN CAMPUS, THE CLOSET OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE ARRAY OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO HELP FAMILIES IN DISTRESS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITHOUT ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, FOR WHOM SECURING BASIC NECESSITIES CAN BE CHALLENGING AND STRESSFUL. THE CLOSET SUPPLIES NON-PERISHABLE FOOD, HYGIENE, HOUSEHOLD CLEANING ITEMS, TOYS, BLANKETS, JOURNALS, PENS, AND DOOR ALARMS FOR SITUATIONS WHERE THE SUSPECTED PERPETRATOR STILL RESIDES WITHIN THE HOME. ADDITIONALLY, THE CLOSET FULFILLS SPECIAL REQUESTS, RECEIVED FROM SNCAC FAMILY ADVOCATES, FOR GAS GIFT CARDS AND CHILDREN'S CLOTHING AND SHOES ITEMS THAT ARE NEWLY PURCHASED. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO ALLEVIATE THE BURDEN ON FAMILIES SEEKING SAFETY AND HEALING IN THE AFTERMATH OF A CHILD'S DISCLOSURE OF ABUSE.

PROGRAM 2 - VEGAS HEALS IN RESPONSE TO THE URGENT NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, THE CACF CREATED THE VEGAS HEALS PROGRAM IN MARCH 2021. THIS PROGRAM ENSURES THAT CHILD VICTIMS RECEIVE THE CONTINUUM OF CARE NECESSARY TO HEAL FROM CHILD ABUSE TRAUMA AND ACHIEVE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES. THE CACF PROVIDES SUPPORT TO VICTIMS WHO CANNOT AFFORD SERVICES AND OFFER ASSISTANCE TO SIBLINGS AND NON-OFFENDING PARENTS WHO EXPERIENCE TRAUMA- RELATED SYMPTOMS OF THEIR OWN. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF VEGAS HEALS IS TO MINIMIZE THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF CHILD ABUSE BY EMPOWERING PARTICIPANTS WITH THE COPING SKILLS NECESSARY TO MOVE FORWARD AND THE KNOWLEDGE TO PREVENT FURTHER ABUSE. WHEN A DISCLOSURE IS MADE, THE ENTIRE FAMILY UNIT IS AFFECTED, INCLUDING SIBLINGS WHO WITNESSED THE ABUSE OR NEGLECT, THE NON-OFFENDING PARENT WHO NEEDS SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, AND OTHER PRIMARY CARETAKERS WHO NEED PSYCHOEDUCATION TO ADEQUATELY SUPPORT THE CHILD VICTIM. TRAUMA- INFORMED THERAPY RECOGNIZES AND ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF BOTH THE PRIMARY VICTIM AND SECONDARY VICTIMS, SUCH AS SIBLINGS AND NON-OFFENDING PARENTS. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT UNTREATED TRAUMA IS UNLIKELY TO DISAPPEAR AND CAN CONTRIBUTE TO CHRONIC PAIN, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, AND SLEEP PROBLEMS THAT IMPEDE A PERSON'S ABILITY TO ATTEND SCHOOL, WORK, AND INTERACT WITH OTHERS.

PROGRAM 3 - CAMP THRIVE LAS VEGAS IN ITS ONGOING PURSUIT TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, THE CACF LAUNCHED CAMP THRIVE LAS VEGAS IN JUNE 2024. TO BE HELD EACH SUMMER, THIS UNIQUE CAMP EXPERIENCE COMBINED TRADITIONAL CAMP ACTIVITIES WITH GROUP THERAPY SESSIONS TAILORED TO CHILDREN WHO HAVE SURVIVED SEXUAL ABUSE, AGES 9 TO 13. THE CAMP AIMS TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR HEALING AND GROWTH. AT CAMP THRIVE LAS VEGAS, A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES TO CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS ARE UTILIZED TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: 1. INCREASE AND PRACTICE HEALTHY BOUNDARIES WITH SAME-AGE PEERS AND ADULTS. 2. INCREASE THE ABILITY FOR PARTICIPANTS TO SELF-ADVOCATE WITH PEERS AND ADULTS IN VARIOUS SETTINGS (INDOOR/OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, GROUP THERAPY, MEALTIME, AND WHEN SHARING LIVING SPACE). 3. INCREASE AND PRACTICE AGE-APPROPRIATE SOCIAL SKILLS AND CUES WITH PEERS AND ADULTS IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. 4. PRACTICE HEALTHY COPING SKILLS IN VARIOUS SETTINGS. 5. LEARN TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES AND OVERCOME FEAR. 6. INCREASE WILLINGNESS TO RELY ON OTHERS FOR SUPPORT AND PROBLEM-SOLVING.