To understand what a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is, you must first understand what children face without one.
Without a CAC, the child may end up having to tell the worst story of their life over and over again, to doctors, lawyers, therapists, investigators, judges and others. They may have to talk about that traumatic experience in a police station where they think they might be in trouble, or they may be asked the wrong questions by a well-meaning adult that could hurt the case against the abuser.
The CAC model of a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) approach, developed through the vision of Former Congressman Robert E. "Bud" Cramer and a group of key individuals, began with the National Children’s Advocacy Center in Huntsville, Alabama in 1985. This approach brought together law enforcement, criminal justice, child protective services, and medical and mental health workers onto one coordinated team.
Since 2002, the James M. Barrie Center for Children has served as Etowah County, Alabama’s children’s advocacy center. Our goal at the Barrie Center is to provide children who have been victimized with an environment where they can find caring professionals and community partners who dedicate themselves to helping them through the investigative and healing process of abuse.
When children/teens and families enter the Barrie Center, they feel like they are walking into a home, not an office. They are greeted with warm smiles from caring staff who welcome them to a place built just for them. Our building is purposefully designed with calming colors and features a child-friendly waiting area with toys and books. Children are interviewed in a comfortable, safe environment while they speak with a specially trained child forensic interviewer.
Within the Barrie Center, families find support, resources, and most importantly a place where healing begins.
