1 / 39

VICTIM ADVOCACY 101

VICTIM ADVOCACY 101. Defining Roles and Responsibilities Yvette Roszell Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center. Children’s Advocacy Centers are:. Facility based programs which provide comprehensive , multidisciplinary services to children suspected of having been abused,

darren
Télécharger la présentation

VICTIM ADVOCACY 101

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. VICTIM ADVOCACY 101 Defining Roles and Responsibilities Yvette Roszell Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center

  2. Children’s Advocacy Centers are: Facility based programs which provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary services to children suspected of having been abused, particularly sexually abused.

  3. Children’s Advocacy Centers • Reduce trauma to children • Improve the flow of information • Hold offenders accountable • Reduce burn-out

  4. The Model Law Enforcement Child Protection Forensic Interviewer Prosecution Mission Purpose Medical CAC Victim Advocacy Mental Health

  5. ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY 1985 – First CAC – National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC), Huntsville, AL 1987 – National Children’s Alliance (NCA) founded (Originally known as the National Network of CAC’s) 1995 – Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers established by US Department of Justice

  6. Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers RCACs are training and technical assistance resource centers for communities establishing or strengthening a CAC and are funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, OJJDP. The four RCACs are assigned to specific geographic areas and work in partnership with NCA to further the development and growth of strong CACs across the country.

  7. Southern RCAC 210 Pratt Avenue NE Huntsville, AL 35801 256-327-3752 Cym Doggett, Project Director Northeast RCAC 4 Terry Drive, Suite 16 Newton, PA 18940 Anne Lynn, Project Director (215)-860-3111

  8. State Chapter Organizations Legislative issues Distribution of state funds Training Technical Assistance Support Development

  9. NATIONAL CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE National membership and accrediting organization for Children’s Advocacy Centers. Mission: to promote and support communities in providing a coordinated investigation and comprehensive response to child victims of abuse. Awarded 8.7 million in grants during 2009. 11

  10. Legislation/Dist. Funds/Development Training/Technical Assistance Accreditation/Standards/Administer Grants Training & Technical Assistance National Children’s Advocacy Center Collaborations R Us

  11. The ACE Study (Adverse Childhood Experience), conducted in 1998 , revealed a direct correlation between childhood trauma and the leading causes of death in adults.

  12. CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTERS AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS

  13. Accreditation Standards • Multidisciplinary Team • Cultural Competency and Diversity • Forensic Interviews • Victim Support and Advocacy • Medical Evaluation • Mental Health • Case Review • Case Tracking • Organizational Capacity • Child Focused Setting

  14. NCA Standard for Victim Advocacy Victim support and advocacy services are routinely made available to all CAC clients and their non-offending family members as part of the multidisciplinary team response.

  15. Essential Component Crisis intervention and ongoing support services are routinely available for children and their non-offending family members on-site or through linkage agreements with other appropriate agencies or providers.

  16. Essential Component Education regarding the dynamics of abuse, the coordinated multidisciplinary response, treatment, and access to services is routinely available for children and their non-offending family members.

  17. Essential Component Information regarding the rights of crime victims is routinely available to children and their non-offending family members and is consistent with legal, ethical and professional standards of practice.

  18. Essential Component The CAC/MDT’s written documents include availability of victim support and advocacy services for all CAC clients.

  19. Rated Criteria A designated, trained individual(s) provides comprehensive, coordinated victim support and advocacy services including, but not limited to: • Information regarding dynamics of abuse & the MDT response, etc. • Updates on case status • Assistance in accessing/obtaining victims rights as outlined by law • Court education, support and accompaniment • Assistance with access to treatment and other services such as protective orders, housing, public assistance, domestic violence intervention and transportation.

  20. Rated Criteria Procedures are in place to provide initial and on-going support and advocacy with the child and/or non-offending family members.

  21. Some Issues with Victim Advocate Role and Responsibilities • Role of the Victim Advocate not Clearly Defined • Role of the Victim Advocate Varies Widely • Victim Advocacy Services are Delivered in Multiple Ways • Qualifications of Victim Advocate Vary Widely • Role of Victim Advocate Accepted Differently within Different CAC’s and MDT’s

  22. How to Get a Grip?! How do we get a handle on what are the essential roles and responsibilities of a Victim Advocate? Roles of other team members are pretty clear…..Medical, Mental Health, Child Protection Service, Law Enforcement, Prosecutor, Forensic Interviewer, CAC, etc.

  23. Focus Group Focus group held in Huntsville, October, 2009 Participants were chosen based upon their history of providing advocacy services within a CAC setting Group was diverse in experience and geographic location (urban vs. rural, etc.)

  24. Goals of Focus Group • Identify Roles and Responsibilities of the Victim Advocate Position • Identify Barriers to Providing Victim Advocacy Services • Identify Qualities Needed in a Victim Advocate and What Type of Training Would Offer Support

  25. Identifying Roles & Responsibilities • Sharing & Brainstorming Responsibilities Associated with Position • Divided Into: • Pre Interview/Intake • Interview/Medical • Follow Up • MDT Case Review/Case Decision Making • Court • Ongoing/Continuous Services • Rated Each Responsibility According to Importance • Came to an Agreement on Essential Responsibilities

  26. Pre-Interview/IntakeRoles and Responsibilities • GREET CHILD AT THE DOOR – FIRST CONTACT • BUILD RAPPORT WITH FAMILY • ORIENT FAMILY TO THE CAC AND WHAT ROLE THE CAC PLAYS ALONG WITH THE MDT PROCESS • COMPLETE INTAKE FORMS WITH PARENT • ENSURE PARENT SIGNS ALL NECESSARY RELEASE FORMS (ALLOWING VICTIM ADVOCATE TO TALK WITH THERAPIST, ETC.) • PROVIDE AND REVIEW INFORMATION PACKET WITH PARENT

  27. Pre-Interview/IntakeRoles and Responsibilities • ASSESS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUES • SUBSTANCE ABUSE SCREENING/EVALUATION • GATHER PSYCHO-SOCIAL INFORMATION, DEMOGRAPHICS, ETC. • CONDUCT A NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH THE CHILD AND THE PARENT AND MAKE REFERRALS AS NECESSARY • CRISIS INTERVENTION • PRE-INTERVIEW “STAFFING” • COMMUNICATE WITH THE FORENSIC INTERVIEWER REGARDING ANY ALARMING BEHAVIOR, INFORMATION OR “COACHING” THAT MAY BE TAKING PLACE

  28. Interview/MedicalRoles and Responsibilities • SIT WITH PARENT DURING INTERVIEW/EXAM • OBSERVE THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW • OBSERVE PARENT’S INTERACTION • EDUCATE/INFORM PARENTS ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE INTERVIEW/MEDICAL EXAM

  29. Follow Up Roles and Responsibilities • PROVIDE SNACK & DRINK, ALONG WITH ITEM OF COMFORT SUCH AS A TEDDY BEAR (post interview) • DEVELOP CASE/SERVICE PLAN WITH FAMILY • LOCATE AND ACCESS MEDICAL SERVICES • REFER CHILD AND PARENT TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES • ASSIST THE MDT IN GATHERING INFORMATION • MAINTAIN CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION WITH THE FAMILY ON A REGULARY SCHEDULED BASIS (ONCE PER WEEK FOR FIRST SIX WEEKS, THEN ONCE PER MONTH FOR AS LONG AS NEEDED • ASSIST IN COMPLETING PAPERWORK FOR VICTIM COMPENSATION, MEDICAID, ETC.

  30. Follow Up Roles and Responsibilities • MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH MDT (OTHER AGENCIES) TO SOLICIT SYSTEM INFORMATION TO PASS ALONG TO THE FAMILY, AND TO ENTER INTO THE DATABASE. • SERVE AS A LIAISON BETWEEN INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES AND FAMILY • MAKE REFERRALS TO ANCELLORY RESOURCES (FOOD, SHELTER, DIAPERS, ETC.) • WORK WITH IMMIGRATION IF APPLICABLE • MAKE REPORT TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AS NECESSARY (NOC & DRUGS, ETC.)

  31. MDT Case ReviewCase Decision Making Roles and Responsibilities • ATTEND CASE REVIEW • REPORT TO MDT HOW CHILD DID BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE INTERVIEW • REPORT TO MDT HOW THE FAMILY IS RESPONDING TO THE CASE MANAGEMENT PLAN, ALONG WITH RELEVANT INTERACTION BETWEEN CHILD AND PARENT, INCLUDE FAMILY DYNAMICS (DEATH IN FAMILY, ETC.) AND ANY OUTSIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD HELP WITH THE CASE • IN ADDITION TO CASE REVIEW, ATTEND “ADVOCACY STAFFINGS” AND UPDATE THERAPIST

  32. Case Closed Roles and Responsibilities • REVIEW/REINFORCE SAFETY PLAN • PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT AS NECESSARY THROUGH REFERRALS OR ON SITE AT THE CENTER

  33. Court Roles and Responsibilities • COURT PREPARATION/ COURT SCHOOL • COURT ACCOMPANYMENT

  34. Ongoing/Continuous Services Roles and Responsibilities • CRISIS INTERVENTION • CASE TRACKING/DOCUMENTATION • CASE COORDINATOR/CHILD ADVOCATE/CASE REVIEW/SUPERVISION • MAINTAIN CLIENT CASE REVIEW SPREAD SHEET (INTERVIEW DATE, BASIC DETAILS, ETC.) • PEER REVIEW

  35. If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way. ~ James Freeman Clarke ~

  36. Contact Information Southern Regional CAC Yvette Roszell, Outreach Coordinator 800-747-8122 yroszell@nationalcac.org www.srcac.org

More Related