The History of the Ohio Network of Children's Advocacy Centers (ONCAC)
The Ohio Network of Children's Advocacy Centers (ONCAC) was formed in 1999 by a group of child abuse professionals who felt that the Children’s Advocacy Center model was the most effective way to tackle the problems associated with child abuse.
The original purpose of this group was to insure that developing Centers and Multidisciplinary Teams in Ohio would have readily accessible resources.
Additional History to Follow.
Children's Advocacy Centers History
There was a time, a child who was a victim of abuse was often re-victimized by the agencies and people who were supposed to help.
Professionals from child protective services, law enforcement, legal and medical systems would interview the child separately in police stations and other adult environments. These interviews were done to meet the diverse and sometimes conflicting requirements of the agencies involved, rather than the needs of the child. The victim seldom received the support and services needed.
In the mid-1980s, a number of communities recognized the need for a different way to address the problems of child abuse. These communities began child-focused programs to investigate the allegations of abuse, prosecute the offenders, and treat the child victims. Agencies and professionals began working together to reduce the trauma children experience from interaction with a confusing system and to enhance the system’s ability to respond to child maltreatment.
This movement was the impetus for the establishment of the first children’s advocacy centers in 1986.
|
ONCAC
