Mississippi: Putting the needs of child abuse victims first

The Children's Advocacy Centers of Mississippi (CACM) is a membership organization dedicated to helping local communities respond to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient – and put the needs of child victims first.  CACM provides training, support and leadership on a statewide level to local children’s advocacy centers and professionals throughout Mississippi responding to reports of child abuse and neglect. 

A children’s advocacy center  is a child-focused, facility-based program in which representatives from many disciplines, including law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, mental and/or medical health, victim advocacy and child advocacy, work together to conduct interviews and make team decisions about investigation, treatment, management and prosecution of child abuse cases.

CACM strongly believes that the combined professional knowldege and skill of the multidisciplinary team approach results in a more complete understanding of case issues and the most effective child and family focused system response possible. 

The Children's Advocacy Centers of Mississippi is an Accredited Chapter of the National Children's Alliance. 

A National Perspective:

One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before the age of eighteen.  The National Children's Alliance (NCA) and the Children's Advocacy Center programs are fundamentally changing the way America handles cases of child sexual abuse.  NCA is the national accrediting body for over 700 Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) who in turn provide a community-based response for hope and healing to victims of severe child abuse.  CACs are located in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  The Children's Advocacy Centers of Mississippi (CACM) is proud to be able to support CACs and other professionals working to put an end to child abuse in Mississippi.