Biz Buzz

National Children’s Alliance recognizes the Child Advocacy Center of Oswego County for its ongoing delivery of high quality and effective services to child abuse victims through accreditation.

The Child Advocacy Center of Oswego County has been awarded reaccreditation by the National Children’s Alliance following an extensive application and site review process. As the accrediting agency for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) across the country, National Children’s Alliance awards various levels of accreditation and membership to centers responding to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient and put the needs of child victims of abuse first. Accreditation is the highest level of membership with the National Children’s Alliance and denotes excellence in service provision.

Accredited CACs must undergo a reaccreditation process every five years to ensure that best practices are continually being applied. With accreditation standards being updated in 2017, reaccreditation this year reflects the Child Advocacy Center of Oswego County’s commitment to providing evidence-based methods and practice.

Founded in 2001, the Child Advocacy Center of Oswego County recently commemorated more than 20 years of service to the children and families of Oswego County. As an Accredited Member of the National Children’s Alliance, the Child Advocacy Center of Oswego County is dedicated to providing comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate services to victims of child abuse.

The National Children’s Alliance awards Accredited Membership based on a CAC’s compliance with 10 national standards of accreditation to ensure effective, efficient and consistent delivery of services to child abuse victims. Accredited Members must utilize a functioning and effective multidisciplinary team approach to work collaboratively in child abuse investigation, prosecution and treatment. National Children’s Alliance also considers standards regarding a center’s cultural competency and diversity, forensic interviews, victim support and advocacy, medical evaluation, therapeutic intervention, and child-focused setting.

“We recognize the importance of maintaining Accredited status from the National Children’s Alliance and we sincerely thank all of our staff, Multi-Disciplinary Team partners and board members for their dedication which allowed us to secure our Accredited Member status. A special thank you to our CAC Deputy Director, Carol Gazitano, who serves as our Accreditation Manager and who helped to lead us through the reaccreditation process. Reaccreditation not only validates our organization’s dedication to proven effective approaches of child abuse intervention and prevention but also contributes to consistency across the Children’s Advocacy Center movement as a whole,” said Tory L. DeCaire, executive director of the Child Advocacy Center of Oswego County.

“The Child Advocacy Center of Oswego County is to be commended for its continued commitment to effectively serve victims of child abuse. As the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers across the country, our goal is to ensure that every victim of child abuse has access to high quality services that result from professional collaboration. By requiring Accredited Centers to undergo reaccreditation every five years, we ensure that evidence-based practices are being implemented and the highest quality of service is being provided,” remarked Teresa Huizar, executive director of National Children’s Alliance.

For more information about the Child Advocacy Center of Oswego County or to learn how you can help, visit www.oswegocac.org.

# # # The Child Advocacy Center of Oswego County is a 501(C) 3 non-profit organization where members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team of Oswego County gather to assist child abuse victims and their families. Our mission is to provide a safe, child-friendly environment that supports a timely, multi-disciplinary response to child sexual abuse, physical abuse and trauma, that promotes healing of victims and their families. The CAC also provides community outreach and efforts to aid in the prevention of child abuse throughout Oswego County.

# # # National Children’s Alliance makes one big difference, one child and one voice at a time. As the nonprofit association and accrediting body providing comprehensive care through hundreds of Children’s Advocacy Centers nationwide, we unify and amplify our voices to command better outcomes. With a forward-thinking approach that stays at the forefront of every child’s future, we are the beginning of child abuse’s end. For more information, visit nationalchildrensalliance.org.