Information | ONCAC

Children's Advocacy Centers

CACs offer coordinated services with multidisciplinary partners to streamline services to families
CACs have been shown to increase prosecution rates drastically in communities that utilize their services
CACs have been shown to hasten criminal charge decision timelines
CACs are able to provide forensic medical exams or exam referrals to children
Parents, caregivers, and multidisciplinary partners are more satisfied with CAC services
Children have reported feeling less scared or not scared at all after CAC services

Per the Ohio Revised Code, a child is abused when they are:

Developing relationships and trust over time.
Interacting with children based on "likes and dislikes."
Spending time alone with the child.
Grooming behaviors and touching to assess the child's ability to protect themselves.
Using children's curiosity about touching to engage sexually.

Children do not always understand abuse or that it is wrong
Biological responses may result in abuse feeling good rather than harmful
Perpetrator manipulation can leave the child feeling guilty or responsible for the abuse
Perpetrators may manipulate children into behaviors and actions that are used as threats agains the child
Perpetrators may threaten harm

Doubles the risk of physical health concerns such as asthma, TBI, and STIs
Impairs psychosocial functions which can lead to aggression, truancy, runaway behavior, substance abuse, and sexualized behaviors
Increases risk of mental health issues such as attachment or behavior disorders, PTSD, depression, or anxiety
Causes changes in the brain that can lead to motor deficiency, academic decline, and impaired processing

Increases the risk for physical conditions such as autoimmune disorders, arthritis, lung/liver/heart disease, migraines, and more
Increases the risk of substance abuse, developing an eating disorder, anti-social behaviors, and engagement in self-harm
Increases risk of mental health issues such as attachment or behavioral disorders, PTSD, depression, or anxiety

Start talking to children at an early age in a developmentally appropriate way about:

Create an open dialogue with children where they feel comfortable talking with parents and disclosing abuse

Parents should begin to talk with children about healthy boundaries at an early age and in a developmentally appropriate way.

Here are some things to talk about:

Stay calm and neutral
Listen to the child and make sure they feel heard
Reinforce that they did the right thing by telling someone
Reinforce that whatever happened was not their fault
Report abuse to children services or law enforcement
Do not ask a lot of questions in an attempt to start your own investigation. Law enforcement and/or children services will take care of it