Child Advocacy Centers: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Trauma-Informed Care
摘要
Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) are national community-based organizations providing a culturally responsive and multidisciplinary team response to allegations of child abuse. CACs provide a full-service response model, including evidence-based therapeutic interventions, forensic interviews, medical examinations by child abuse pediatricians, victim advocacy services, and investigative services by a specialized unit of law enforcement. Despite supporting research that a coordinated and comprehensive response minimizes trauma on children and their families, current practices need improvement. This chapter explores the history of CACs from its 1985 inception and the evolving role of social workers in shaping anti-oppressive practices to better serve families. Attention is given to navigating potentially oppressive organizational and institutional child welfare systems. Case vignettes illustrate social work interventions using a social justice lens. These reflections can prompt students, instructors, and clinicians to critically assess the challenges faced by advocates in this setting and the resources needed to provide trauma-informed and anti-oppressive care.