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Detailed description of project (including description of need, scope of work, methodology, who benefits, number <br />of beneficiaries, other project partners, etc.): The Children's Advocacy Center of Paris (CAC) is a <br />private non-profit 501 c 3 orqanization The purpose of a CAC is to reduce the trauma faced by <br />children and their non-offendinQ familv members by usinq a multidisciplinarv team approach to <br />investiqations. This team is made up of representatives from the CAC, the County/District <br />Attorney's Office local law enforcement agencies and Child Protective Services. Children involved <br />in investiqations of abuse are now brouqht to one location, a larqe finro-storv house desianed to be a <br />neutral child-friendly place for families to come durinq the investiqation process Representatives <br />from each aqency involved meet at this location to collaborate on each case. Child victims are <br />interviewed by one person a forensic interviewer, trained to talk with children about these <br />situations. A forensic interviewer is trained to elicit information from children in a non-leadinq, non- <br />threateninq manner that is legally defensible and will stand up in court. The interview is viewed by <br />the other professionals involved throuqh a closed-circuit camera system. Every effort is made to <br />ensure that all information is obtained in one interview so that the child does not have to repeat <br />details of abuse over and over aqain. CAC staff members then provide follow up services for <br />families and are available to assist them as their case makes its way throuqh the criminal iustice <br />svstem. Established in 1999, the CAC has served 2,268 children and their non-offendinq family <br />members. The averaqe number of children served qer vear is 235. Approximatelv 72% of all <br />children served bv the Center live in Lamar County and 60% of all the children served live in the <br />Citv of Paris. <br />Since its inception the CAC has continued to expand its services to better meet the needs of child <br />'victims and their non-offendinq family members. The CAC currently provides onsite sexual assault <br />exams bv highly trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs). The Rainbow Room is an <br />emerqency resource room for children involved in CPS investiqations and for children beinq placed <br />in foster care Other services include but are not limited to: court accompaniment, assistance with <br />Crime Victim's Compensation claims and mental health referrals. This vear the CAC is workinq to <br />establish a Drug Endanqered Children (DEC) proqram to work with children who suffer physical or <br />emotional risk as a result of illeqal drug use, manufacturinq, cultivation, or distribution. <br />City of Paris Revised 6/10/08 <br />