A Resource for Evaluating Child Advocacy Centers

Administrators of Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) must possess a number of skills, including knowing how to conduct an evaluation. This resource book, written expressly for CAC administrators, is designed to give administrators who have varying amounts of evaluation experience the knowledge they will need to conduct either one-time or ongoing evaluations. This manual can also be used by those who contract with an external evaluator; it will be helpful in educating external evaluators about the issues surrounding a CAC evaluation. Evaluation is essential. It is the only way to ensure that a program is benefiting, not harming, the people it is designed to help (Thompson and McClintock 1998). There was a time when reducing the number of interviews to one was the ultimate goal of a CAC. Research has shown, however, that it is sometimes beneficial and necessary to interview children more than once (for example, by using the extended forensic assessment) (Carnes 2001; Carnes, Wilson, and Nelson-Gardell 1999; Myers, Saywitz, and Goodman 1996). The evaluations presented in this book focus on the National Children's Alliance membership standards, excluding organizational structure. (CACs vary in their protocols regarding these standards.) These standards encompass seven core components (among others): - Child-friendly facility. - Multidisciplinary team. - Child investigative interview. - Medical examination. - Mental health services. - Victim advocacy. - Case review.