| Child Victim
Advocate Program
What is a Child Victim Advocate?
The Child Victim Advocate works to ensure that the needs of a child
who has experienced abuse or neglect are met. Support services such
as providing referrals, explaining the legal process and accompanying
the child and non-offending family members to court, police, medical
and therapeutic sessions are just some of the things an advocate
does.
To receive an advocate's assistance, your child must be under 18
and allege they have been the victim of abuse.
The Advocate:
- Assists in filing for crime victims compensation claims from
New York State Crime Victims Board.
- Accompanies the child and family to court, police, medical and
treatment appointments.
- Makes appropriate treatment referrals.
- Offers emotional support to the child and family throughout
the duration of the case.
- Acts as an intermediary with police, social workers, physicians,
district attorneys and all other professionals involved.
- Assists in writing the victim impact statement that a judge
can use when determining sentence.
- Works with the Child Advocacy Center of Nassau County to reduce
the number of interviews a child faces.
- Offers peer support and socialization groups, such as Project
Kidz Talk ©, for children and their non-offending parent/guardian
so they can share similar interests and concerns.
Why does the Advocate help?
It is important to help the child and non-offending family members
recover quickly from the physical and emotional trauma caused by
abuse. Effects may not be immediately experienced by the child.
Behavioral and emotional problems often develop as a child grows
into an adolescent or as a teenager grows into an adult. Appropriate
treatment, facilitated by the advocate, can help ensure your child’s
healthy emotional and physical development and well-being, as well
as your own.
You don’t have to be alone.
CCAN’s Child Victim Advocate Program has the resources to
help you and your child. Contact us.
Back to Programs & Services
or Child Advocacy Center pages.
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