The mission of the Children's Advocacy Center is to combat child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse by coordinating and providing services to children in a safe, caring environment.

Communities across the nation are confronting the frightening reality that many of their children are being sexually abused. What they have only begun to recognize is that often the agencies that are responsible for helping these children are, instead, creating far more trauma than the original abuse.

It is extremely painful for children to talk about these experiences, and in our present system of child protection they must face a bewildering parade of unfamiliar adults. They must recount the nightmare over and over to the police, a physician, a child protective service worker, a district attorney, a therapist, and others in settings that were never designed for children.

Recognizing that we are the system and we have the ability to change it, professionals in Washington County, Unicoi County, Carter County, and Johnson County decided to redesign our system so that its primary focus is the child victim and his or her family. The new approach is called the Children's Advocacy Center of the 1st Judicial District, which is a private, not-for-profit organization. It involves child protective services, law enforcement, prosecution, mental health, medical, education, and other resources in a community response to child abuse.

By agency agreement, children involved in sexual abuse and severe physical abuse cases are directed to the Children's Advocacy Center. Specially trained professionals conduct interviews in rooms designed to appeal to children of all ages. The initial contact person and the atmosphere of the Center are critical in the efforts to gain the child's confidence and trust. Now, children will tell their story to one caring adult in a child-friendly environment.

In addition, we provide a comfortable, home-like setting where the child knows he or she will be safe. We also do everything possible to help the family regain its ability to function. Each child's progress is monitored through ongoing conferences with the various treatment professionals, and we track each case at every step to prevent the child from getting lost within the system.

The information needs of all the service agencies will be met. Because all agencies are cooperating in the venture, children are unlikely to "fall through the cracks" in the system.

The CAC is accredited by the National Children's Alliance. In addition, the CAC is a member of the following organizations: Tennessee Council on Children and Youth, Tennessee Chapter of Children's Advocacy Centers, and Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare.