Mountain Child Advocacy Center Inc

Mountain Child Advocacy Center Programs Descriptions After achieving national accreditation as a Child Advocacy Center in January 2017, Mountain Child Advocacy Center continues to lead the region in quality services for child abuse victims. Child Abuse Prevention Education: The Mountain CAC child abuse prevention education program is an evidence-based, trauma-informed approach that aims to help kids understand boundaries, identify a safety network of adults, understand what abuse is and know that it is never the childs fault. Mountain CAC Prevention Educators present personal safety lessons to approximately 5,000 K-5th students every year. Mountain CACs Community Educator presented evidence-based training to over 200 adults in the community. Darkness to Lights Stewards of Children and Recognizing and Reporting Abuse are curriculums that teach adults how to recognize and appropriately respond to child abuse victims. The adult prevention education program offers additional supports for parents and caregivers; Circles of Security Parenting (COSP), Resource Parenting Curriculum (RPC), and Non-Offending Parent (NOP) support groups. Circles of Security Parenting (COSP) is designed to improve parent-child attachment and is our primary approach when working with adults around parenting. We have found that as attachment improves, behaviors also improve. Circles of Security Parenting teaches the parent to recognize the need their child is expressing and to respond to the need in a healthy, supportive manner. Parenting classes are provided for approximately 50 families every year.

Advocacy Program: The Family Advocate serves the child victim and non-offending family members to navigate the process of a child abuse investigation and links the child and family to other services. The Family Advocate works with over 250 families a year with varying degrees of intensity. Mountain CAC treats some of the toughest cases in the region, and our Family Advocate operates as a referrals specialist, making important therapy decisions. The Family Advocate is a reassuring and knowledgeable guide providing linkage to resources and supports. This includes medical and legal needs, as well as housing, food assistance, and safety resources. The Family Advocate represents the child victim through the Multidisciplinary Team case reviews and keeps the family updated on investigative and court progress.