Children's Advocacy Centers (CAC's) were established in an effort to enhance the sensitivity and responsiveness in cases of child abuse, neglect, and trauma.  The CAC works to minimize the impact of this trauma by providing vital assistance to our investigative community partners.  The coordination of these services implements a collaborative approach through a multi-disciplinary team (MDT).

The Gordon County Child Advocacy Center offers support and coordinates the efforts of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) of professionals that consist of the following:

• Law Enforcement Investigators (Gordon County Sheriff's Department and Calhoun City Police Department)
• Prosecutors of the Gordon County District Attorney's Office
• Child Protective Service workers from the Gordon County Division of Family and Children Services
• Medical Professionals with Advent Health and Gordon County Health Department.
• Mental Health Professionals 
• Court Appointed Special Advocates from Gordon CASA

Within the neutral setting of the CAC, team members can collaborate on strategies that will assist in cases with investigators and prosecutors without creating further trauma for the child.  This partnership approach significantly increases the likelihood of a successful outcome for victims.  This team effort can promote long-term healing for the most vulnerable crime victims, which are the children within our community.  

The Gordon County CAC multi-disciplinary team collaborates to:

• Limit, when possible, the amount of times a child is interviewed
• Provide comfortable, child-friendly settings for forensic interviews
• Reduce the child victim and their families travel between multiple agencies
• Coordinate medical and mental health services
• Increase public awareness about incidence and impacts of child abuse