EMMA'S HOUSE BITTERROOT VALLEY - CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER

EMMA'S HOUSE PROVIDES A SAFE, CHILD-FRIENDLY FACILITY FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO TALK TO PROFESSIONALS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. EMMA'S HOUSE COORDINATES WITH MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND PROSECUTORS TO STREAMLINE THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS AND REDUCE TRAUMA BY OFFERING SPECIALIZED CARE IN TRAUMA TREATMENT. IN ADDITION, EMMA'S HOUSE PROVIDES OUTREACH AND PREVENTION EDUCATION TO PROMOTE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY.WE SERVE ALL OF RAVALLI COUNTY AND HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, RAVALLI COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY. WE ALSO DO COURTESY INTERVIEWS FOR OTHER STATES AND COUNTIES. THERE ARE 750 CACS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE. EMMA'S HOUSE IS ONE OF SIX CACS IN MONTANA AND IS THE ONLY ONE IN MONTANA THAT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH A HOSPITAL OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER (CAC) IS, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND WHAT CHILDREN FACE WITHOUT ONE. WITHOUT A CAC, THE CHILD MAY END UP HAVING TO TELL THE WORST STORY OF HIS OR HER LIFE OVER AND OVER AGAIN, TO DOCTORS, COPS, LAWYERS, THERAPISTS, INVESTIGATORS, JUDGES, AND OTHERS. THEY MAY HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE IN A POLICE STATION WHERE THEY THINK THEY MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE, OR MAY BE ASKED THE WRONG QUESTIONS BY A WELL-MEANING TEACHER OR OTHER ADULT THAT COULD HURT THE CASE AGAINST THE ABUSER.WHEN POLICE OR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES BELIEVE A CHILD IS BEING ABUSED, THE CHILD IS BROUGHT TO THE CAC--A SAFE, CHILD-FOCUSED ENVIRONMENT--BY A CAREGIVER OR OTHER "SAFE" ADULT. AT THE CAC, THE CHILD TELLS THEIR STORY ONCE TO A TRAINED INTERVIEWER WHO KNOWS THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO ASK IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT NOT RETRAUMATIZE THE CHILD. THEN, A TEAM THAT INCLUDES MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH, PROSECUTION, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, VICTIM ADVOCACY, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS MAKE DECISIONS TOGETHER ABOUT HOW TO HELP THE CHILD BASED ON THE INTERVIEW. CACS OFFER THERAPY AND MEDICAL EXAMS, PLUS COURTROOM PREPARATION, VICTIM ADVOCACY, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND OTHER SERVICES. THIS IS CALLED THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM (MDT) RESPONSE AND IS A CORE PART OF THE WORK OF CACS.SPECIFIC SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FORENSIC INTERVIEWS, MEDICAL EXAMS SPECIFIC TO CHILD ABUSE ALLEGATIONS, CRISIS INTERVENTION AND COUNSELING FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, VICTIM ADVOCACY IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, ASSISTANCE IN FILING CLAIMS WITH THE MONTANA CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION PROGRAM, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION, AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND SOCIAL SERVICE. EMMA'S HOUSE ADDED ACUTE MEDICAL SERVICES IN JULY 2024.