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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 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 organization. The purpose of a CAC is to reduce the trauma faced lby <br /> children and their non-offending family members by using a multidisciplinary team approach to <br /> investigations. 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 /> <br /> in investigations of abuse are now brought to one location a large two-story house designed to be a <br /> neutral, child-friendly place for families to come during the investigation process Representatives <br /> from each agency 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-leading, non- <br /> threatening manner that is legally defensible and will stand up in court. The interview is viewed by <br /> the other professionals involved through a closed-circuit camera system Everv effort is made to <br /> <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 again. CAC staff members then provide follow up services for <br /> families and are available to assist them as their case makes its way through the criminal 'ustice <br /> system. Established in 1999, the CAC has served 2,635 children and their non offending family <br /> members. The averane number of children served per year is 207 Approximately 79% of all <br /> children served by the Center live in Lamar County and 59% of all the children served live in the <br /> City of Pans. <br /> <br /> Since its inception, the CAC has continued to expand its services to better meet the needs of child <br /> victims and their non-offending family members The CAC currently provides onsite sexual assault <br /> exams by highly trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) The Rainbow Room is an <br /> <br /> emernency resource room for children involved in CPS investigations and for children being placed <br /> in foster care Other services include but are not limited to: court accom animent assistance with <br /> Crime Victim's Compensation claims and mental health referrals The CAC has also established a <br /> Drug Endangered Children (DEC) program to work with children who suffer physical or emotional <br /> risk as a result of illegal drug use manufacturing cultivation or distribution <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> T~.:~...LNA/AO <br /> 101 <br />