Medcenter One Dakota Children's Advocacy Center

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Our team

We are a community partnership that utilizes a comprehensive multidisciplinary team approach to investigating child abuse.

Professionals from social services, law enforcement, prosecution, victim advocacy and the medical and mental health communities come together under one roof so that a child only has to tell of his or her abuse one time.

Our team members include:

*Kristie Anderson, FBI
*Jonathan Byers, Assistant Attorney General
Gladys Cairns, Department of Child and Family Services
Shari Doe, Burleigh County Social Services
*Cynthia Feland, Burleigh County State's Attorney
Cathy Ferderer, NDCAWS
*Veronica Fernow, West Central Human Service Center
*Diane Gates, Indian Health Services Mental Health
Arne Graff, MD, MeritCare
Brian Grossinger, Morton County State's Attorney
Bob Haas, Bismarck Police Department
*Paula Huber, Abused Adult Resource Center
*Chris Kasper, Burleigh/Morton County Social Services
*Paul Leingang, Mandan Police Department
*Jacki Lelm, West Central Human Service Center
*Gary Malo, Bismarck Police Department Advisory Board
Kathy Mayer, Prevent Child Abuse ND
*Jacqueline Owll, Standing Rock Victim Witness Specialist
Mike Quinn, Bureau of Criminal Investigation
Richard Riha, Burleigh County State's Attorney
*Julie Schwab, Medcenter One
*Joan Standing Bear, Standing Rock Child Protection
Mary Lee Steele, West Central Human Service Center
*Rick Volk, US Attorney's Office
*Les Witkowski, Burleigh County Sheriff's Department


* indicates participation on the CAC Advisory Board

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What we do

Interview

The forensic interview process is unique because it encourages all interested parties to participate in only one interview.

The child is interviewed in a child friendly room with one professional.

Law enforcement and social services participate in the interview by observing on a closed circuit television.

Those observing the interview contribute to the interview process by visiting with the interviewer on breaks and directing the interviewer to ask certain questions.

The child talks to a forensic interviewer. The interviewer is specially-trained in talking with children about difficult subjects. Questions are asked in a non-threatening and non-leading manner. The interviewer moves at a pace that is comfortable with the child and never forces a child to talk.

Exams

The child may receive a medical examination if needed.

The exam has two purposes. First we need to ensure the health and safety of the child. Second, we need to identify any evidence of child abuse.

The medical examination is done by a medical professional who has been specially trained to examine children who are suspected victims of child abuse.

One definite advantage of the medical examination is that it allows the medical professional to assure the child that his/her body is okay.

Therapy

Counseling is available at the Advocacy Center to the victim and/or their family. Abused children and their families often need immediate support as well as long-term treatment to deal with their feelings about abuse.

Advocacy

The family advocate focuses on the needs of the non-offending caregiver and the children. The advocate can offer support, make referrals and help answer questions the family might have.

Education

Education is available to the community and agencies across North Dakota on an as needed basis. We focus our efforts on the need for prevention, the effects of child abuse and the importance of collaborating and using the multidisciplinary team approach. The CAC also offers NCA n.e.t., a national teleconferencing program that offers training, technical assistance and support to the multidisciplinary team several times a month. Continuing education units are made available.

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Benefits

Child friendly atmosphere Unbiased third party No charge for services Specially-trained forensic interviewer Specialized medical practitioners Video-taped interview Expert court testimony Multidisciplinary team approach Reduces the number of child interviews Effective mental health referrals Shorter caseworker response times

Lengthier investigations More investigative contacts More perpetrator departures from the home More perpetrator confessions More frequent victim corroboration More substantiated reports More criminal prosecutions More guilty pleas Digital colposcope