FY2025 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets

FY2025 Proposed Budget Organizational Budgets

Division of Family Services

Child Advocacy Center Mission Statement

The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) promotes child well-being by coordinating a child - focused approach to address reports of child maltreatment. We seek to prevent and reduce trauma to children and families through a collaborative, child-first multi-disciplinary response throughout the investigation, prosecution, advocacy, and treatment processes.

Every child is filled with extraordinary potential, and we have a collective responsibility to prevent maltreatment and other forms of childhood adversity from diminishing their ability to learn, grow, and contribute to our community. The Child Advocacy Center is fully accredited by the National Children’s Alliance and provides a safe, child and family friendly facility designed, staffed, and equipped to provide comprehensive and coordinated trauma-informed services to child abuse victims and their families. Specialized services include multi-disciplinary team facilitation, child forensic interviews, forensic medical examinations, advocacy, and trauma-focused therapy. The CAC works with local, state, and national law enforcement agencies, Frederick County Department of Social Services, Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office, Frederick Health Hospital, Frederick County Public Schools, community service providers, and citizens to help children and families heal past traumas, prevent future trauma from occurring, and assist in promoting life-long well-being of the children who come to us for care. In addition to its dedicated child-focused response and services, the CAC is expanding its commitment to prevention by developing and delivering evidence

supported primary prevention interventions (education, training, and awareness).to avert child maltreatment before it occurs. Working together, we can successfully address and prevent the negative outcomes associated with maltreatment in childhood.

260