ANNUAL REPORT

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Tennessee

3

What are Children’s Advocacy Centers?In Tennessee, the child advocacy centers (CACs)

are at the forefront of addressing issues of child

abuse. Each center provides a child-friendly

space for victims to receive comprehensive

services as well as a space for child protection

investigative team (CPIT) members to meet

and review cases. CAC models for child abuse

intervention are proven and effective in bringing

together trained professionals, in providing services

to victims, and holding offenders accountable through

the court system. Child

advocacy centers are

located in both rural and

urban communities across the

state, providing services to

all 95 counties through-

out Tennessee.

4

HOW DOES THE CAC MODEL WORK?Core Function of CAC Function Provided by a Team Member

The role of local law enforcement is grounded

in public safety.

If not criminal in nature, law enforcement may

not take action.

The role of CPS is to ensure that a child’s home is safe.

If the family/caretaker is not the alledged abuser, CPS may

not take action.

LAW ENFORCEMENT CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES

Priority Assigned(24-72 hours)

Immediate Response

Child is brought to Children’s Advocacy Center

Joint Investigation Begins ‘ Forensic Interview ‘ Evidence Collected ‘

Photos Taken ‘ Witness Interview ‘ Medical Treatment and Exam

CAC coordinates Case Review with all team members,including law enf orcement, prosecution, Child ProtectiveServices, the forensic interviewer,

a mental health provider, a medical pro essional, and a family advocate

Child & family receive mentalhealth services—Family

advocate works with family to assess critical resources and provide support as the case moves through the

justice system

Case presented to District Attorney

Suspect charged orcase refused

Child removed fromHome or Case Opened for

Services, or Case Closed

5

Male41% Female

59%

0-6 Years47%7-12

Years31%

13-17Years21%

18 and up1%

68%

25%

3%

3%1% 0%

0%

Gender of Alleged Victims

Age of Alleged Victims

Race or Ethnicity of Alleged Victims

Who are the victims of child abuse in Tennessee?

Why are children referred to a CAC?Alleged Maltreatment

Sex Abuse

Physical Abuse

Medical Maltreatment

Lack of Supervision

Neglect

Drug Endangered Child

Child Death

13,797

2,570

118

1,493

279

3,416

225

OUTCOME MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS

What the caregivers we serve say about the CACs...

90.6% of caregivers surveyedindicated their child felt safe duringtheir visit to the CAC.

95.8% of caregivers surveyedindicated they and their child weregreeted and received attention in atimely manner.

97.5% of caregivers surveyedindicated CAC staff were friendlyand pleasant.

89.3% of caregivers surveyedindicated they were provided withresources by CAC staff to supporttheir child and respond to his or herneeds in the days and weeks ahead.

What our fel low team members say about the CACs...

91.9% of MDT members surveyed strongly agree the CAC Model fosters collaboration.

80.8% of MDT members surveyed strongly agree that case review team meetings are useful in development of cases.

89.9% of MDT members surveyed strongly agree that clientsserved through the CAC benefit fromthe collaborative approach of themultidisciplinary team.

86.4% of MDT members surveyed strongly agree the CAC provides resources that help to better work cases.

6

CACs – A hub of services for victims and their familiesChild Advocacy Centers create a central location for children and families to receive comprehensive

services. The centers encourage and support coordinated case review and investigations, while offering a safe, child-friendly space for children and non-offending caregivers to come and

meet with law enforcement, DCS, medical professionals, district attorneys, and therapists.

8,888 Forensic InterviewsA forensic interview is a developmentally sensitiveprocess for gathering information from a child. Thepurpose of a forensic interview is to gather facts aboutwhat may have happened to the child. Other membersof the multidisciplinary team observe the interviewand use the information gleaned from the child as astarting place for the rest of the investigation.

13,579 Victim Advocacy Services Once a child victim makes a disclosure, their worldmay appear to come crashing down. The investigativeprocess can be daunting for a child and the non-offending caregivers as they feel shuffled from oneappointment to another. Victim advocates are with thechild and non-offending caregivers from the beginningthrough to the end of their journey; serving as thepoint person for non-offending caregivers to make allinquiries regarding case proceedings.

29,977 Mental Health Sessions Provided for 4,729 ChildrenCounseling is an integral part of the process and essential to helping a child heal from the abuse. Counseling is a safe place for a child and their caregiver to process what they experienced and dealwith their psychological and emotional needs.

Children learn that they are not responsible for what happened to them and how to redirect the responsibility to the abuser. Abuse is a piece of theirstory but does not define who they are.

16,761 MDT Case ReviewsBefore child advocacy centers, the members of the child protection investigative teams performedtheir case responsibilities independently withoutcross communication. As a result, children were not prioritized and often asked to tell their story over and over again to different adults. CACs placed the child back in the center of the investigation. Now team members meet regularly, around one table, to share information and connect families and children to services.

1,093 Medical Exams Medical evaluations are completed to screen for injuries and medical conditions and initiate medicaltreatment, they can help identify medical evidenceto prosecute the offenders and most importantly,reassure victims and non-offending caregivers aboutthe child’s physical well-being.

7

*To find out which additional services are available inyour county, please contact your local child advocacycenter. Contact information listed on page 25.

11

WEST TENNESSEEH Child victim psychoeducational groups

H Clothing closet

H Drug-endangered child program

H Food pantry

H Meth-free Tennessee

H Non-offending caregiver support groups

H Non-offending caregiver treatment

H Parenting classes

H Play therapy

H Prevention programs:• Stewards of Children

H Relative Caregiver Program – support groups for both caregivers and children

H School supply closet

H Super-friend mentoring

MIDDLE TENNESSEEH Body Safety Program

H CAC Youth Advisory Board for high school juniors and seniors

H Court advocacy

H Clothing closet

H Criminal justice support

H Crisis counseling

H Drug-endangered child program

H Food pantry

H Holiday sponsorship of families

H KidZone community event

H Making Better Choices program for nonviolent teens

H Parenting classes

H Prevention programs:• Stewards of Children • Yellow Dyno

H Support groups/group treatment for victims and non-offending parents

H Shelter/safe house

H Unite! Conference

H Victim’s compensation information

12*To find out which additional services are available inyour county, please contact your local child advocacycenter. Contact information listed on page 25.

EAST TENNESSEEH Bullying program

H Clothing closet

H Community service hour program for non-violent teens

H Court advocacy

H Direct assistance: gas vouchers, clothing, school items

H Domestic violence survivor support group

H Everyday Heroes Conference

H Food pantry

H Non-offending caregiver support groups

H Prevention programs:• Stewards of Children • Yellow Dyno • SCAN (Stop Child Abuse and Neglect)• No, Run, Tell

H Safe Space - Responds to after-hours needs of DCS to provide a child-friendly space for children to wait for placement

H Teen Mom Education/Support Program

H Tutoring services

H Victim’s compensation information

*To find out which additional services are available inyour county, please contact your local child advocacycenter. Contact information listed on page 25.

13

17

Who We AreThe Children’s Advocacy Centers of Tennessee

(CACTN) is a statewide membership organization

dedicated to helping communities, through

local child advocacy centers, respond to

allegations of child abuse in ways that are

effective and efficient – and put the needs of

child victims first.

Our MissionTo promote, assist, and support development,

growth, and sustainability of Child Advocacy

Centers in their service to at risk, abused and

neglected children and their families.

Help local centers identify and meet the needs

of their communities by:

• Providing technical assistance

• Offering trainings for multidisciplinary

teams, CAC boards and staff

• Create awareness among

professionals and communities about

CACs and child abuse

• Soliciting and administering funding for

active and developing centers

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Membership Services1. Funding support

• Scholarships for training/conference attendance

• Small grants to assist with purchase of training material and/or agency operational expenses

• Ongoing solicitation of funding for active and developing centers

2. Technical Assistance

• CACTN staff work with individual CACs and staff on a case by case basis

• We will assist with:

- National Children’s Alliance (re) accreditation applications

- Board development

- Program development/evaluation

- Peer review- Case tracking tools

• Complete site visits, if/when needed

• Reference/Resource lending library

• Consultation on issues such as:- Staff/MDT development/concerns - Individual case issues - Crisis issues

3. Grant Administration

• Administration of state semi-annual and annual reporting

• Respond to requests for information regarding state and/or NCA contractual and funding requirements

• Review of grant proposals and/or budgets; assistance in enhancing grant/financial management to meet requirements of funders.

4. Communications and Outreach

• Marketing/advertising

• Quarterly Community Newsletter

• Directory of CACs in Tennessee

• Monthly E-Newsletter for CAC Directors

• Team Excellence and Length of Service Awards Program

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5. Training

• Four new staff hires

- “Talking to Kids”

- Annual Connecting for Children’s Justice Conference

- Stewards of Children Facilitator Training

- Victim Advocacy

- Forsenic Interview Training

- Trauma Informed Care

- Multidisciplinary Teaming (MDT) Training

• CAC Director Specific Training

- Non-profit Management

- Board Development

- CAC Sustainability

- Mentoring Program for New CAC Directors

- Legal toolkit re: common legal themes you may encounter

• CACs in the Tennessee who wish to have training that is designed specifically for

their agency and/or community can contact CACTN for assistance with developing

a customized training.

6. Advocacy and Awareness

• Liaison for CACs with the state legislature

• CACTN staff are members of many state collaborations and initiatives to promote best practice for services to children and families involved in child abuse cases.

• Represent CACs to other state agencies

• Promotion of CACs through web site/web based directory

7. Networking Opportunities

• Quarterly Meetings for CAC Directors, Forensic Interviewers, Family Advocates and

Community Educators to discuss current issues, policies, procedures and legislation

concerning the response to child abuse and neglect

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What’s new?The past fiscal year was defined by several positive changes for the Children’s Advocacy Centers of

Tennessee, membership organization. The positive advances include but are

certainly not limited to:

• The hiring of four new staff: Executive Director Karen Jointer,

Training and Education Manager LaShonda Randolph,

Director of Program and Service Development Brad Palmertree,

and Grants and Contracts Specialist Lauren West.

• Set up of a new office in

Nashville, Tennessee

• Development of a new agency

and conference website

• Development and implementation of

new membership benefits package

• Development and implementation of a new

membership training calendar

• Overall agency rebranding with new logo,

name change and marketing materials

21

2015-2018 Strategic GoalsDue to the recent transitions, CACTN staff felt it

necessary to develop a three-year strategic plan that

focused on the needs of our centers. Based on survey

responses from center staff, the following were

identified as key, strategic goals:

• Member engagement and development: Engage

members and provide the resources and assistance

needed to impact children and families in

communities throughout Tennessee.

• Awareness and advocacy: Increase awareness of

CACs as the experts in child abuse services and

advocate for policies that support our work.

• Sustainability: Increase and diversify financial

support to sustain our mission.

• Strategic partnerships: Build partnerships with

public and private organizations to achieve greater

impact with children and their families.

• Organization capacity: Continue to develop and

strengthen the organization’s capacity to fulfill our

mission and goals.

22

The 2015 Connecting for Children’s Justice Conference was attended by over 700 child protectionprofessionals. Disciplines in attendance including: Law Enforcement, Department of Children’s Services, Legal, Prevention, Medical and Mental Health professionals as well as Child Advocates.

CONNECTING FOR CHILDREN’S JUSTICE

“ The conference was edifying innature, assisted in networking and boosted personnel morale.”

“ This is a great conference to recharge your professional batteries by attending sessions of good topics, meeting others, and sharing information, and listened to speakers and having epiphanies happen

around the room of people realizing new programs they could incorporate into their workforce or a better way of doing things.”

“C ompletely uplifting experience within a very diff icult f ield of service!”

23For more information: www.tnccjconference.org

October 2-4, 2016Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel and Conference Center

CONNECTINGFOR

CHILDREN’SJUSTICE

When and where will

be held this year?

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Pamela Dickey, LCSW

Board ChairDirector, Childhelp Children’s

Center of East Tennessee

Tracie Davis

V ice ChairChief Executive Officer,

Campbell County Children's Center

Lisa Schmidt

Secretary Director, Madison County

Child Advocacy Center

Chris Evans-Longmire

Immediate Past President Executive Director,

Kids First Child Advocacy Center

of the 9th Judicial District

Shelley M. McGraw

Board TreasurerExecutive Director, CACHC

Marcus Stamps

Executive Director,

Davis House Child

Advocacy Center

Joyce Prusak

Executive Director,

Coffee County Children's

Advocacy Center

Jennifer Wilkerson

Executive Director,

Upper Cumberland CAC

Angie Hatcher Sledge

C ommunity Member of East Tennessee

Director of Development

Knoxville Habitat for Humanity, Inc.

Susan Lawless-Glassman

C ommunity Member of West Tennessee Memphis CAC

Kati Blalock

C ommunity Member of East Tennessee

Board of Directors

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Judicial district

CAC accredited by NCA

CAC

County

County lines

Judicial district lines

JUDICIAL DISTRICT CITY OFFICE PHONE

1 Johnson City (423) 926-6528

2 Blountville (423) 279-1222

3 Mosheim (423) 422-4446

4 Sevierville (865) 774-1777

5 Maryville (865) 981-2000

6 Knoxville (865) 637-1753

7 Clinton (865) 463-2740

8 Oneida (423) 569-8900

8 LaFollette (423) 562-4190

8 Jamestown (931) 879-7290

8 Maynardville (865) 992-7677

8 Tazewell (865) 332-2827

9 Lenoir City (865) 986-1505

10 Athens (423) 744-0599

10 Cleveland (423) 790-5740

11 Chattanooga (423) 266-6918

13 Cookeville (931) 854-0115

14 Manchester (931) 723-8888

15 Lebanon (615) 449-7975

16 Murfreesboro (615) 867-9000

16 Woodbury (615) 563-9915

17 Fayetteville (931) 438-3233

17 Lewisburg (931) 359-0830

18 Gallatin (615) 451-2169

19 Clarksville (931) 553-5140

JUDICIAL DISTRICT CITY OFFICE PHONE

19 Springfield (615) 384-5885

20 Nashville (615) 327-9958

21 Franklin (615) 790-5900

21 Hohenwald (931) 796-0816

22 Lawrenceburg (931) 766-2213

23 Charlotte (615) 789-3035

24 Huntingdon (731) 986-5920

24 Paris (731) 642-8455

24 Parsons (731) 847-4020

25 Bolivar (731) 659-2373

25 Covington (901) 476-1515

25 Selmer (731) 646-3627

25 Ripley (731) 635-7856

25 Savannah (731) 925-2252

26 Henderson (731) 989-7222

26 Lexington (731) 967-0727

26 Jackson (731) 422-6464

27 Martin (731) 587-0768

28 Alamo (731) 696-2452

28 Brownsville (731) 772-9378

28 Trenton (731) 855-4884

28 Humbolt (731)784-7500

30 Memphis (901) 888 4340

31 McMinnville (931) 507-2386

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Message From Our Board PresidentFebruary 18, 2016

To Our Community Partners and Supporters,

I am delighted to offer you this Annual Report reflecting the work of Tennessee’s Children’s

Advocacy Centers and their statewide membership organization, the Children’s Advocacy Centers

of Tennessee (CACTN). As you can see we have provided direct services, education and advocacy

to children, their families, community partners and our stakeholders across the state.

CACTN has “reinvented” itself with a look toward increasing support and training for CACs and

their staff members to enhance their ability to provide best practice services to children

and families who find themselves dealing with abuse and neglect issues. The Chapter is dedicated

to building relationships and improving the “footprint” of child advocacy centers increasing

awareness of child abuse and neglect issues and the ways that CACs make the investigative

process as child-friendly and non-traumatizing as possible.

In short, CACTN and its member CACs work hand in hand to make life better for children and

families across Tennessee.

Sincerely,

Pamela A. Dickey, LCSW

Board President

This project is funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.