CACs a National Model
Nationally, there are 435 accredited Child Advocacy Centers providing services to more than 175,000 children. More than one third of these children are under the age of six. The average age of a CAC client is nine. In addition, there are at least another 200 CAC programs in various stages of development nationally.
Washington, D.C. based National Children's Alliance, is the national membership organization and accrediting body for Child Advocacy Centers. Founded in 1996, NCA serves as a sub-grantor of more than $8 million dollars in federal funds from the United States Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to support the development, growth and sustainability of CAC programs nationally.
National Children's Alliance 2007 Statistics
These statistics are based on reports submitted to NCA by nationally accredited CACs throughout the country.
There are 435 Accredited Child Advocacy Centers nationally.
In 2007, accredited CACs:
- provided services to more than 175,000 children;
- 74% of the children had a presenting allegation of sexual abuse
- 14% of children had a presenting allegation of physical abuse
- 12% of children had a presenting allegation of neglect, witness to violence and other offenses
- 74% of the children were 12 years old or younger
- 38% were six years old or younger
- 66% of the children were female
- 34% of the children were male
- 81% of the cases included an offender known to the child including parent, relative, boyfriend/girlfriend of parent or another person known to the child