MEMPHIS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER

THE MEMPHIS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER (CAC) SUPPORTS SAFETY FOR CHILDREN THROUGH PREVENTION, COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, AND A TEAM APPROACH TO HEALING AND JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND OTHER SEVERE ABUSE.THE SHELBY COUNTY CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM (CPIT) IS HEADQUARTERED AT THE MEMPHIS CAC. CPIT INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES; THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY GENERAL'S SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT; ALL SHELBY COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES; SHELBY COUNTY CRIME VICTIMS AND RAPE CRISIS CENTER; LE BONHEUR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL; AND JUVENILE COURT. THE TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REVIEW, INVESTIGATION, TREATMENT, AND PROSECUTION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND OTHER SEVERE ABUSE. IN FY25, CPIT REVIEWED 3,524 REPORTED CASES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND OTHER SEVERE ABUSE. MEMPHIS CAC FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS USE A NATIONALLY ACCEPTED PROTOCOL WHEN INTERVIEWING CHILDREN AFTER REPORTED ABUSE. THE FACTFINDING INTERVIEWS ARE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, UNBIASED, AND LEGALLY SOUND. IN FY25, THE MEMPHIS CAC CONDUCTED FORENSIC INTERVIEWS WITH 621 CHILDREN. EACH DIGITALLY RECORDED INTERVIEW WAS OBSERVED IN REAL TIME BY INVESTIGATORS VIA CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION.IN FY25, MEMPHIS CAC THERAPISTS HELD 1,723 SESSIONS WITH CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND CAREGIVERS. THE MEMPHIS CAC PROVIDES TRAUMA-FOCUSED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY AND OTHER EVIDENCE BASED THERAPIES. OUTCOME EVALUATION INDICATES THAT MEMPHIS CAC THERAPY SERVICES RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN WHO COMPLETE THERAPY. EVALUATION ALSO SHOWS THAT PARENTS/CAREGIVERS FEEL BETTER EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT THEIR CHILD.MEMPHIS CAC FAMILY ADVOCATES ARRANGE TRANSPORTATION TO CAC SERVICES, ASSIST WITH CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION APPLICATIONS, ACCESS COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND HELP FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE LEGAL SYSTEM. IN FY25, CAC FAMILY ADVOCATES WORKED WITH 621 FAMILIES AND PROVIDED 460 CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES.IN ADDITION TO CRITICAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED, THE MEMPHIS CAC PROVIDES PREVENTION SERVICES. IN FY25, THE MEMPHIS CAC PROVIDED STEWARDS OF CHILDREN CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION AND RESPONSE TRAINING TO 1,028 SHELBY COUNTY ADULTS. THE TRAINING IS RESEARCH INFORMED. IT IS DESIGNED FOR PARENTS AND ADULTS WHO WORK WITH CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS AND DAYCARES, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS, AND YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS. SINCE 2011, OVER 31,000 UNDUPLICATED SHELBY COUNTY ADULTS HAVE TAKEN THE TRAINING. SIX-MONTH FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS INDICATE TRAINEES SHOW SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT PROTECT CHILDREN. THE MEMPHIS CAC ALSO OFFERS POLICY WORKSHOPS AND CONSULTATION FOR YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS.THE MEMPHIS CAC WAS ONE OF FIRST 25 CHILD ADVOCACY CENTERS TO OPEN IN THE U.S.-NOW THERE ARE OVER 950. THE CAC WAS CERTIFIED AS A CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AGENCY BY THE STATE OF TENNESSEE IN 2001. A FULL MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE SINCE 1992, THE CENTER MEETS THE RIGOROUS MEMBERSHIP STANDARDS AND WAS REACCREDITED IN 2025. RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE AN UPDATED SHELBY COUNTY CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATION TEAM (CPIT) PROTOCOL. ON DECEMBER 3, 2025, THE UPDATED PROTOCOL WAS SIGNED BY LEADERS OF THE 15 CPIT AGENCIES INCLUDING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, LE BONHEUR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, THE TN DEPT. OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES, ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN SHELBY COUNTY, AND OTHER AGENCIES.THE PREVENTION TOWN HALL ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 WAS ATTENDED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS AND DECISION MAKERS FROM THE FAITH COMMUNITY, THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BEST PRACTICE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AVAILABLE AT THE MEMPHIS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER, VISIT MEMPHISCAC.ORG.