DA’s Office opens Child Advocacy Center of San Luis Obispo, serving child victims and their families

Author: District Attorney
Date: 9/12/2024 3:07 PM

District Attorney Dan Dow announces the opening of the Child Advocacy Center of San Luis Obispo County (CACSLO) and releases a video marking the achievement of a longtime effort to provide child victims of abuse and their families a full-service center.

The CACSLO is a collaborative effort under the leadership of the District Attorney's Office and includes the following partners: the Center for Family Strengthening, San Luis Obispo County Health Agency, Child Welfare Services, Sheriff's Office, Suspected Abuse Response Team (SART), Victim Witness Assistance Center, and local law enforcement agencies. The CACSLO is a one-stop center that offers multi-disciplinary services to the county's most vulnerable victims and their families.

Through the Child Advocacy Center of San Luis Obispo County, the District Attorney's office and their partner agencies strive to offer child focused and trauma informed support that will allow for the comprehensive delivery of services for victims of child abuse and prosecution of the abusers in appropriate cases.

A Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) is a child-friendly facility in which law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, mental health, medical and victim advocacy professionals work together to investigate abuse, help children heal from abuse, and hold offenders accountable. In the neutral setting of the CAC, team members can collaborate on strategies that will aid investigators and prosecutors without causing further harm to the victim.

In 2018, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office and Health Agency began a partnership with the Center for Family Strengthening to implement the concept of a Child Advocacy Center (CAC) for San Luis Obispo County. The goal of the partnership was to develop a one-stop safe and trauma informed location where child victims of physical and sexual abuse take part in a single comprehensive forensic interview administered by a District Attorney's Office Child Forensic Interviewer, participate in a forensic medical exam administered by a Health Agency doctor or nurse to gather physical evidence in a criminal investigation, and receive comprehensive advocacy services necessary for physical and mental wellbeing and healing.

The initial implementation in 2018 included at that time, that the "center" was implemented as a process and was distributed across several locations, the collaborative CAC team worked diligently to coordinate services in a trauma-informed manner and to reduce the likelihood of inflicting further unnecessary trauma.

In 2018, our CAC was implemented with all the necessary partners, but a one-stop location was not identified or able to be funded at that time. To meet the intent of our goals, the CAC multi-disciplinary team (MDT) was established with critical members that included: District Attorney's Office Child Abuse Forensic Interviewer Team (CAIT), the Center for Family Strengthening, San Luis Obispo County Health Agency doctors and nurses, Child Welfare Services, Suspected Abuse Response Team (SART), Sheriff's Office, local law enforcement, RISE, and Stand Strong.

While this was the first step in moving toward opening a brick-and-mortar center, the most vulnerable child victims had to travel from place to place to receive the assistance and support needed with considerable difficulty logistically and emotionally. By bringing all services under one roof, potential gaps in services and further traumatization are reduced and the victim is provided support to help with recovery.

"Our Child Advocacy Center is designed around those who deserve our protection and compassion," said District Attorney Dan Dow. "The District Attorney's Office, with support of our partners, Center for Family Strengthening and the Public Health Agency, has created a child focused location that will allow for the comprehensive delivery of services for victims of child abuse. Child victims now have one location where law enforcement, family advocates, and medical professionals will provide specialized services that will best assure the health and safety of the children. The District Attorney's Office is committed to holding those accountable who harm our children and will work collaboratively with our partners who support and guide our families through the criminal and victim justice system."

Child Abuse Interview Team Program Manager Katie Robinson states, "Confidentiality is the cornerstone of child abuse investigations. This space will assure that children and families can access services and make sure that their safely and wellbeing is assessed appropriately. There is a team of doctors, family advocates, interviewers, and nurses that are available at all times to assist law enforcement and child welfare services during child abuse investigations."

Medical Director of the Suspected Abuse Response Team, Dr. Nisha Abdul Cader, stated "Through this joint endeavor we strive to provide the children and their families in our community with the highest professional, compassionate, and seamless services."

The Child Advocacy Center of San Luis Obispo County, located in the city of San Luis Obispo, encompasses a child focused forensic interview room, children's playroom and family room, consultation room, interview/conference viewing room, medical exam room, and office areas for legal professionals, family advocates, behavioral health specialists, medical staff, and the Child Abuse Interview Team. The décor is inviting and friendly with toys, books, televisions, and comfortable seating areas. The District Attorney's Courthouse Dog Program often brings over their support dog Edgar, a yellow lab, to comfort the children and their families during their time at the center.

Here is a link to the CAC video.

Please contact Assistant District Attorney Eric J. Dobroth at 805.781.5819 with any questions.

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