What We Do

Children’s Advocacy Centers are child-focused programs in which representatives from many disciplines, including law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, mental health, medical and victim advocacy, and child advocacy, work together to conduct interviews and make team decisions about investigation, treatment, management and prosecution of child abuse cases. Generally a CAC is a neutral area and is designed specifically to create a feeling of safety and security for the children involved.


There are currently 13 CACs and/or Multidisciplinary Teams (MDT’s) in Vermont, serving all 14 counties. Thus ensuring a family in crisis will not have to travel far for help.


There are 8 CAC’s in Vermont that hold accreditation through the National Children’s Alliance. Learn more about what it takes to be an accredited CAC here. We also have five CACs who have applied for and received associate membership to the National Children’s Alliance.


What is a Children's Advocacy Center?

The first Child Advocacy Center was founded in 1985 in Huntsville, Alabama. Before that, a child was interviewed repeatedly by many professionals; from their teacher to whom they have disclosed,Now, all that has changed. There are currently 13 CACs and/or Multidisciplinary Teams (MDT’s) in Vermont, serving all 14 counties. Thus ensuring a family in crisis will not have to travel far for help. There are 8 CAC’s in Vermont that hold accreditation through the National Children’s Alliance.  to the school nurse, to the school counselor, to the principal to law enforcement, to child welfare services etc. Often, in repeating the story over and over, the child was re-traumatized.


The image above shows how overwhelming and confusing it used to be for children who disclosed abuse. A child like Robin might have had to tell their story up to 15 times—to teachers, doctors, police officers, counselors, and others—reliving their trauma again and again. Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) were created to change that. At our center, we bring all the professionals a child might need—law enforcement, child protection, medical staff, mental health providers, and legal teams—together under one roof. The child comes to a safe, welcoming space where they only have to tell their story once, in a specially designed, child-friendly interview. This reduces trauma and ensures the child feels heard, supported, and protected. In addition to forensic interviews, we also offer: Family advocacy and support services Referrals to trauma-informed therapy Medical exams in a comfortable, non-threatening environment Crisis support and education for non-offending caregivers Community outreach and prevention programs Everything we do is centered on the child’s safety, healing, and long-term well-being. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, donors, and community partners, we can continue providing these essential services at no cost to the families we serve.

This image shows how overwhelming and confusing it used to be for children who disclosed abuse. A child like Robin might have had to tell their story up to 15 times—to teachers, doctors, police officers, counselors, and others—reliving their trauma again and again.


Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) were created to change that. Hover over the image to see what is practiced now.


At our center, we bring all the professionals a child might need—law enforcement, child protection, medical staff, mental health providers, and legal teams—together. The child comes to a safe, welcoming space where they only have to tell their story once, in a specially designed, child-friendly interview. This reduces trauma and ensures the child feels heard, supported, and protected.


In addition to forensic interviews, we also offer:

  • Family advocacy and support services
  • Referrals to trauma-informed therapy
  • Medical exams in a comfortable, non-threatening environment
  • Crisis support and education for non-offending caregivers
  • Community outreach and prevention programs


Everything we do is centered on the child’s safety, healing, and long-term well-being.


OUR House of Central Vermont was founded in 1989. A "magical team" in the late 1980s helped create the organization, which serves as a child advocacy center dedicated to supporting children who have been abused and their families. 


The CAC Model