Child Advocacy Center of Rockingham County

About Us

                                        Our History

The Child Advocacy Center of Rockingham County (CACRC) opened its doors in January of 2000 at the Community Campus building in Portsmouth. At that time we were New Hampshire's first and only operating CAC in the state. In 2000, the CACRC served 23 Seacoast area towns and in 2002 expanded to include all 37 towns in Rockingham County. The CACRC attained accredited membership status with the National Children's Alliance in 2003. That same year, we opened a second office in Derry, NH to better serve the Western side of the county. To date we have provided professional services to over 3,200 children and their families at no cost to them or taxpayers. 

 

                                     What was before the CACRC?

Prior to the establishment of CAC's, when abuse was reported the child was subjected to numerous interviews. A child might be questioned by the parent or teacher who receives the initial disclosure, then by the Police in whatever space was available, from a holding jail cell to the back of a police cruiser. Child protective services would then question them at their offices or in the home where abuse may have occurred. On a further occasion, the child would visit the doctor for an exam and be questioned and in some cases questioned by the local prosecutor. The typical child abuse victim would be interviewed an average of 8 times by separate people with different questioning styles and agendas.

                                  

                                    Reducing the Trauma of Children

Multiple interviews of a child abuse victim not only increases trauma but are counterproductive to conducting a solid investigation. The Child Advocacy Center brings together all parties within the investigation to one child friendly, neutral location so one interview can be conducted and all relevant parties are represented. Everyone's questions are asked through a trained forensic investigator skilled at interviewing children. The National Children's Alliance reports that in municipalities where a Child Advocacy Center is utilized there is a 40% increase in successful prosecution of child abuse cases.

 

         
 

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