All faiths children's advocacy center (CAC) proposes to implement the children's safehouse forensic interview program

This $250,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (CFDA 16.753 Congressionally Recommended Awards) supports the implementation of the Children's Safehouse Forensic Interview Program by the All Faiths Children's Advocacy Center (CAC), a non-profit organization.

The funding allows All Faiths CAC to conduct forensic interviews of children who have witnessed violent crimes or alleged abuse, as well as developmentally disabled adults reporting physical or sexual abuse. Key activities include providing forensic interviews, comprehensive case management, collaboration with multi-disciplinary partners, case tracking, and training in victim advocacy and trauma-informed practices for staff. Expected outcomes include increased numbers of forensic interviews, continued implementation of a case tracking system, and improved collaboration between All Faiths CAC and its government and law enforcement partners. The project aims to benefit children and developmentally disabled adults who are alleged victims of abuse.

The purpose is to conduct forensic interviews of children who have witnessed a violent crime or who have alleged abuse. All faiths CAC also conducts forensic interviews with adults who have a developmental disability and disclose physical or sexual abuse. The goal of the forensic interview is to gather pertinent information in a neutral, developmentally appropriate, and legally defensible manner. Project activities include the funding of forensic interviews, support for comprehensive case management for clients, collaboration meetings with multi-disciplinary team partners, tracking of high-priority cases by case trackers and training in victim-advocacy and trauma-informed best practices for employees. Expected outcomes include increased numbers of forensic interviews, continued implementation of a detailed case tracking system through ncatrack, and improved collaboration between all faiths CAC and its partners in government and law enforcement. Case management support subsequent to interviews results in improved employment, housing, and food scarcity outcomes for families, as well as improvements in parenting skills and access to healthcare. Children and developmentally disabled adults who have been the alleged victim of abuse are the intended beneficiaries of the project.