For Lawmakers

How Children’s Advocacy Centers make a difference

In 2023, CACs provided victim services to more than 380,000 children and abuse prevention education to more than 1.5 million people.

The primary mission of a CAC is to prevent further victimization by ensuring that child abuse investigations are comprehensive, and that intervention and healing services meet the age-appropriate needs of the child. Communities that use CACs and multidisciplinary teams:

• Have a far higher conviction rate for CAC cases that are carried forward.
• Ensure that child victims of sexual abuse are four times more likely to receive medical care and increased referrals for mental health treatment than children served by non-CAC communities.
• Can be found in every type of community from urban, suburban, and rural communities to Native American tribes.
• Provide services to children from 0-18, with nearly 27% of the children served being younger than 6 years old.

Learn the facts about CACs

• CACs prevent abuse and keep children safe
• CACs save money
• CACs are efficient
• CACs hold offenders accountable
• CACs help child victims heal
• CACs are effective
• CACs are committed to research-supported practice
• CACs are accountable

Through our 961 Children’s Advocacy Centers, National Children’s Alliance empowers local communities to effective respond to victims of child abuse.