Madera County
Child Advocacy Center (CAC)
Reporting suspected child abuse can make a difference.
Be a hero.
A CAC provides a safe, child-friendly environment where a child shares their experience just once.
When a child is not seen at a CAC, they often have to recount their experience multiple times to different authorities such as medical providers, law enforcement officers, child protective services, and other child abuse experts. This repeated recounting can retraumatize the child and negatively affect their well-being and judicial process.
The Madera County Child Forensic Interview Team (CFIT)
The Madera County CAC provides a centralized victim-centered hub for the CFIT to deliver direct services onsite during the child and family’s initial visit to the CAC and thereafter. Direct services include providing support, advocacy, medical, mental health services, referrals, investigative guidance, and facilitation of continuation of care. The services provided are free, comprehensive, and designed to meet the unique needs of each child and family.
The CFIT consists of the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, City of Madera Police Department, City of Chowchilla Police Department, Madera County District Attorney’s Office, Madera County Department of Probation, Social Services, Public Health, Behavioral Health Services,
and CAPMC Child Advocacy Center and Victim Services.
CFIT Mission Statement
The Child Forensic Interview Team (CFIT) exists to reduce the ongoing trauma for children who are victims of child abuse by providing evidence-based best practices outlined in the National Children’s Alliance service standards for Child Advocacy Centers with accredited memberships.
CFIT Goals
01 Reduce the number of interviews to which the child is subjected;
02 Minimize the number of persons who interview the child;
03 Improve the quality and quantity of information obtained in the interview;
04 Shorten the time period between investigation and legal disposition of child sexual abuse cases;
05 Provide immediate intervention for the purpose of protection, support services, and referrals for the child and family;
06 Protect immediate crisis intervention by trained professionals available at all times through our crisis hotline
1 (800) 355-8989.
1 (800) 355-8989.
Forensic Interview Services
A Forensic Interview is designed to obtain a statement from the child victim and/or witness, in a developmentally sensitive, unbiased and fact-finding manner, that will support accurate and fair decision-making in the criminal justice process and child welfare system by coordinating one interview to reduce the trauma experienced by recalling the events.
Mental Health Services
The Madera County CAC will provide information and a referral to trauma-focused mental health services for the child and non-offending caregiver. Child abuse survivors and families will have access to consistent culturally competent trauma-focused therapeutic intervention at no cost and within proximity to their place of residence. Services provided are designed to meet the unique needs of program participants and are available as part of the multidisciplinary team coordinated response to facilitate the continuation of care via evidence-based wrap-around services for children and families.
Forensic Medical Exam Services
The Madera County CAC, in partnership with Central Valley Forensic Nursing Specialists, Inc. (CVFNS) Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) provide information and access to forensic medical evaluations onsite and at no cost to child abuse victims. Forensic medical exams are provided by experienced and compassionate professionals who have specialized training and acknowledge the importance of medical care of maltreated children. SANEs respond onsite as part of the multidisciplinary team coordinated response to conduct acute and non-acute exams for the purpose of collecting DNA evidence. Additionally, CVFNS will make referrals as necessary for medical follow-up to ensure the safety and well-being of the child.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Forensic Interview Process
You may tell your child, “You and I are going to the Madera County Child Advocacy Center (CAC); it is a child friendly and safe place where kids share their story. You are not in any trouble but it is very important that you speak only the truth.”
Your child will talk to a certified forensic interviewer who has special training and experience in interviewing child victims of abuse. The interviewer moves at a comfortable pace and never forces a child to talk to them.
Multidisciplinary team (MDT) members present at the Madera County CAC are the Detective, Deputy District Attorney, Child Protective Services Social Worker, Victim Advocate, Certified Forensic Interviewer, and CAC personnel. All of these professionals are sensitive to the difficult time that you and your child are experiencing. The Detective and Deputy District Attorney will determine if a crime has been committed and what other investigative steps must be taken. The CPS Social Worker must assess the safety and protection of your child. The Victim Advocate will provide support and guidance from first contact and thereafter. The CAC personnel will provide support to the team, host you and your child, and provide information and referral to mental health services. The teams overall goal is to complete the investigation in a child friendly, timely, and professional manner.
It is important for the interviewer to talk with your child alone. If something abusive happened to your child, it might be difficult for them to talk about this in front of you. MDT members have the responsibility of observing, assessing, and investigating the allegations. Their focus must be on your child. Therefore, you are not allowed to observe the interview and are encouraged to bring a support person or speak to the victim advocate while the interview is taking place.
Digital recording investigative interviews is a tool which provides accurate and thorough documentation of what occurs during the interview. The DVD is the property of the Madera County District Attorney’s Office and can only be released by court order.
At the end of the interview the detective will inform you about what will happen next. All team members who are present during the interview will be available to speak with you and answer any questions you may have. Lastly, when appropriate the CAC will administer a survey for feedback on your experience and check-in with you regarding any questions you have or offer additional services you may need before leaving the center.
Child Abuse Prevention Tips
Education is the best form of prevention. Parents should not only talk to their children about not talking to strangers but also teach them that people they trust, such as family members, family friends, or acquaintances could also harm them. It is not uncommon for children of sexual abuse to be assaulted by a known person.
01
Teach your child that they own their body and that no one should ever touch them inappropriately.
02
Explain to your child that even if its someone they know, if their touch makes them feel uncomfortable, they can say NO.
03
Reassure your child that they can come to you and tell you openly if something has happened to them regardless of who the person is. Take their concerns seriously.
04
Do not teach your child to have harmful secrets about you or the family.
05
Assist your child with protecting their online accounts by limiting who can view their information.
06
Tell your child to report any inappropriate sexual images they see or receive online
07
Show interest in your child's day-to-day life, get to know the people in their life.
08
Teach your child about boundaries, and how to talk about their bodies.
Accredited Member
The Madera County CAC is acknowledged by the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) Board of Directors as an NCA Accredited Child Advocacy Center. As the accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers, NCA ensures that all children across the U.S. served by CAC’s receive consistent, evidence-based services that help them heal from abuse.
Accredited Member
The Madera County CAC is acknowledged by the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) Board of Directors as an NCA Accredited Child Advocacy Center. As the accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers, NCA ensures that all children across the U.S. served by CAC’s receive consistent, evidence-based services that help them heal from abuse.
Community Partner
A special thank you to Berry Development for generously waiving the rental cost of the Madera County CAC since 2019. Through this donation, the Madera County CAC can offer a child-centered environment that ensures a safe, comfortable, and neutral space for conducting forensic interviews and delivering comprehensive support services to children and families.
Resources & Documents
Victim Documents
Video Resources
