Our Programs and Services
Family Advocacy
The focus of the Family Advocacy program is to help reduce trauma for the child and non-offending family members associated with an investigation and to improve outcomes. In the aftermath of abuse, the child and family can feel a loss of control. They need support in navigating the various systems they encounter which most often are unfamiliar to them. Crisis intervention, education, assessment and support services help to assess the child and family's needs, reduce fear and anxiety, and provide information that is empowering.
Coordinated family advocacy services encourage access to and participation in investigation, prosecution, treatment and support services throughout the entire process. Up to date information and ongoing support are critical to a child and family's comfort. We have two full time family advocates on staff who are the first point of contact for every family at Pat's Place. They gather all information needed to schedule and prepare the family for their appointment. They assure parents that every question is worth asking, that every need is worth addressing In addition, Family Advocacy includes:
- Greeting each child and family and orienting them to the child advocacy center when they arrive
- Crisis intervention and support at all stages of investigation and prosecution
- Provide education about the coordinated, multidisciplinary team response
- Provide updates to the family on case status and court status such as continuances, dispositions, sentencing, offender release from custody
- Assessment of child and family's attitudes and feelings about participation in the investigation or prosecution
- Provide court support and accompaniment
- Secure transportation to interviews, court, and other case related meetings.
- Provide assistance in procuring services including mental health treatment, housing, protective orders, domestic violence intervention, food, crime victims compensation, transportation, Medicaid, food stamps, etc.
Forensic Interviews
The Forensic Interview is the cornerstone to preventing a child from suffering more trauma during the investigative process. Often, the successful investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses hinges on obtaining reliable information from children or witnesses. The interview creates an environment that provides the child an opportunity to talk to a trained professional regarding what they may have been exposed to. It is critical that the interview be conducted with skill and integrity to obtain information that will help professionals make decisions about safety, need for protection, criminal charging decisions and therapeutic needs. Interviews are conducted at Pat's Place by a licensed clinical social worker employed by Levine Children's Hospital. Following research-based interviewing guidelines and protocols, this interview enhances the child's free recall, minimizes interviewer influence and avoids duplication of the interview process to ensure the best outcome for the family.
Medical Evaluation
The provision of medical care to children exposed to sexual abuse is becoming increasingly specialized. It requires a specific set of skills and body of knowledge that many pediatricians don't have. Pat's Place provides a full time pediatric nurse practitioner to ensure all of our children receive the care needed, onsite. The purposes of the medical evaluation include:
- Help ensure the health, safety, and well-being of the child
- Diagnose, document and address abuse related medical conditions, injuries or infections
- Recognize medical findings that are indicative of abuse or which may be explained by other medical conditions
- Consider alternative explanations for a concerning sign or symptom
- Diagnose, document and address medical conditions unrelated to abuse
- Assess child for developmental, emotional or behavioral problems needing further evaluation and treatment
Multidisciplinary Team
The multidisciplinary team (MDT) is the core of a child advocacy center. The purpose is to coordinate the intervention, ensure the investigative team has all information to make decisions, and improve communication among professionals. This team is composed of child protection workers, law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, medical and mental health providers and child advocacy center staff. Our team meets weekly to review every child's case and create a plan for each based on their unique needs. This team broadens the base of knowledge with which decisions are made regarding a child's safety, need for on-going intervention and potential prosecution of offender.
Non-offending Care Giver Support Group
Non-offending parents or caregivers experience a trauma that is not unlike that of their victimized child. As sexual abuse is a crime of trust, parents and caregivers often feel violated by their child's abuser. Pat's Place provides a non-offending care giver support group to those parents and care givers who are rebuilding their families in the wake of sexual abuse. Our facility serves as a safe environment for healing to begin. This group is free of charge.
Court Support
It can take an average of 2 years for allegations of sexual abuse to result in a criminal court proceeding. Pat's Place court support eases the family through the process of preparing for the court proceedings, supporting the family and child through the trial and working with the families after the verdict to ensure that all of their needs are met. Our Family Advocates ensure that the family understands the process of their child's court proceedings and is present with them during preliminary interviews, testimony and the reading of the verdict. This is a very difficult time for a family; not only is the court process itself difficult and overwhelming, but going to trial means facing the individual who harmed a loved one. Our staff ensures that even the smallest detail is addressed from providing lunch money to ensuring that the family has planned adequate transportation to and from the proceedings.
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Contact Pat's Place at 704-335-2769 or email us to learn more about how you can help.
Copyright © 2009-2010 Pat's Place Child Advocacy Center, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Pat's Place Child Advocacy Center, Inc. is a tax-exempt non-profit organization.
1819 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203 704-335-2760 ◊ 704-335-2768 fax - Get directions