A local child advocacy center is now an associate member of the National Children’s Alliance, the accrediting body for Child Advocacy Centers.
The Clearfield County Child Advocacy Center helps in the investigation, prosecution, and prevention of child abuse.The CAC has specially trained personnel to do interviews children and work with law enforcement during investigations and prosecution to make the experience less traumatic for children.
Clearfield CAC Director Mary Tatum says more than 100 children a year come to the center, after being physically or sexually abused.
“For our CAC, we say we’re where healing begins because we help coordinate that investigation, but also we talk to the parents or the non offending caregivers about what they need. What do you need to help get help,” she explained.
The Clearfield CAC hopes to move to full accreditation with the National Children’s Alliance over the next five years, according to Clearfield County District Attorney William Shaw.