The Child Advocacy Center of Northeast MO

Our Services:

Forensic Services

The purpose of a Forensic Interview is to obtain a statement from a child or developmentally disabled adult in a developmentally and culturally sensitive, unbiased, and fact-finding manner.

The Child Advocacy Center has expert Forensic Interviewers on staff to complete interviews for children and developmentally disabled adults who may have experienced sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, and for children who witness a violent crime. This interview is the beginning phase of an investigation along with the related services to assist the child and involved caregiver in the healing process.

The Child Advocacy Center has taken an additional step to ensure that children and adults with developmental disabilities have support during their Forensic Interviews by adding Facility Dogs to our team. The presence of a Facility Dog can be a source of comfort and may allow a child to share more about their experience.

Our facility dogs were specially trained by CHAMP Assistance Dogs. They provide comfort and support to children during forensic interviews and may be able to go with the child to court if needed.

The Facts

In 2023, we provided sexual abuse prevention education to 51,562 children
In 2023, 1,142 children received forensic interviews about alleged abuse.
In 2023, 766 of our forensic interviews involved sexual abuse
60% of child sexual abuse victims never tell.
90% of child sexual abuse is by someone the child likes, loves, or lives with.
1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before the age of 18.
Nearly 700,000 children are abused in the U.S. each year.
Sex offenders are 3.5x more likely to confess if a child has had a forensic interview at a child advocacy center

Meet Bruno

Date of Birth: November 18, 2020
Weight: 87 lbs
Breed: Black Lab
Hobbies: Couch cuddles, playing with my new best friend – Benz, licking toes, and playing catch with my humans. I’m also working on my basketball skills.