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Executive Director of the Child Advocacy Center of Oswego County (CAC), Karrie Damm, has announced that the members of the CAC's Multi-Disciplinary Team met recently at the CAC's Annual Meeting to establish its goals for the future, and update the groups Interagency Agreements.
Comprised of a cross section of law enforcement investigators, child protective services, medical providers, therapeutic professionals, victim support professionals, the probation department, the district attorney's office, and other human services agencies, the CAC's Multi-Disciplinary Team maintains a well-coordinated, effective approach to child abuse investigation and prosecution, and service provision to families and individuals affected by child abuse. "Our Multi-Disciplinary team is a collaborative effort to reduce the trauma to children and respective family members undergoing the investigation of child sexual and physical abuse," explained Damm. "Team members also work to enhance prosecution of perpetrators involved in child victimization and to help facilitate positive legal and treatment outcomes for child victims and their families."
Each member of the CAC's multidisciplinary team adheres to the National Children's Alliance Standards, and through collaboration, pursues case outcomes that meet the best interest of the child victim and their families. Team members share pertinent information regarding the cases, and by following the CAC's system for monitoring cases, take necessary steps to protect children, strengthen families, and intervene as early as possible to properly investigate and prosecute child physical and sexual abuse cases in Oswego County and provide abused children and their families with proper protection and treatment.
According to Damm, one of the advantages of having a Multi-Disciplinary Team is that each member provides child victims and their families with a specific service to address their unique needs.
"The Multi -Disciplinary Team enables us to offer a wide range of services to children who have been physically, sexually, or emotionally abused and their families. Working together with law enforcement investigators, child protective services, medical providers, therapeutic professionals, victim support professionals, and the district attorney's office, we are able to maintain an effective approach to child abuse investigation and prosecution, and service provision to families and individuals affected by child abuse," said Damm.
Members of the CAC Multi-Disciplinary Team, and the service they provide, include:
- Oswego County District Attorney (Prosecution)
- Oswego County Department of Social Services (Child Protective Services)
- City of Oswego Police Dept. (Law Enforcement)
- City of Fulton Police Dept. (Law Enforcement)
- Oswego County Sheriff's Dept. (Law Enforcement)
- New York State Police, (Fulton, Pulaski, and Hannibal) (Law Enforcement)
- HOPE Program (Medical)
- CAC (Mental Health and Victim Advocacy)
- Oswego County Probation Department (services utilized as needed)
- Huntington Family Services Safe Options Treatment Program
Located at 301 Beech Street in Fulton, with a satellite office at 4822 Salina Street in Pulaski, the CAC of Oswego County is a non-profit charitable organization that works hand-in-hand with local law enforcement, prosecution, child protective services, medical providers, therapy providers, and victim advocacy professionals in Oswego County to protect and serve children that are victims of sexual and physical abuse. For more information on the Child Advocacy Center of Oswego County you may contact them at 315-592-4453.
