The Child Advocacy Center

Resources

Sometimes life can be overwhelming, fortunately, there are resources available to help make it easier. Supporting families is how we can help kids reach their full potential and build a better future for everyone. If you are feeling in over your head please get help. Call someone or reach out to one of the providers listed below. We are all stronger, together.

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

Our Programs

Programs for Children

Body Safety
Internet Safety
High School Sexual Abuse Prevention (Relationships, Manipulation, Consent, Trafficking)

Programs for Parents/Caregivers

Body Safety
Internet Safety
Stewards of Children
Strengthening Families
Special Needs Body Safety
Parent Support Groups
Sex Trafficking & Child Exploitation

Programs for Professionals

Mandated Reporter Training
Preventing Predators in the Workplace
Special Education Body Safety
Awareness to Action Missouri
Effects of the Initial Response to Disclosure
Everything but the Kitchen Sink: An Exploitation Case Study

Helpful Handouts

Missouri KidsFirst

Missouri KidsFirst is the state chapter for Missouri’s child advocacy centers (CACs). They empower adults to protect children from abuse and neglect throughout the state.

Darkness to Light

Contains programs designed for adults to raise awareness of the prevalence and consequences of child sexual abuse. The 7 Steps to Protecting Our Children covers preventing, recognizing and reacting responsibly.

FBI Sex Offender Registry

Use the FBI’s sex offender registry to find out if registered sex offenders are in your neighborhood.

Stop It Now!

Stop It Now! offers adults tools they can use to prevent sexual abuse, stressing that all adults must accept the responsibility to recognize, acknowledge and confront the behaviors that lead to the sexual abuse of children. The national helpline number is available to adults and adolescents who have sexually abused or feel the urge to sexually abuse a child.

Child Molestation Research & Prevention Institute

A site packed full of resources that are easy to understand. The research and publications page has a model for school counselor consultations. Other pages include diagnosis and treatment information, web and reading resources, news and a prevention plan.

Zero Abuse Project

Zero Abuse Project equips current and future multi-disciplinary teams and other professionals with the skills to identify abuse, intervene for children’s safety, secure justice, and build resiliency. They also provide survivors of abuse and families of the missing with tools and resources.

American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children

The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) is a national organization whose mission is to enhance the ability of professionals to respond to children and families affected by abuse and violence. APSAC tries to fulfill this mission in a number of ways, most notably through providing education and other sources of information to professionals who work in the child maltreatment and related fields.

National Children’s Advocacy Center

The mission of the NCAC is to model, promote, and deliver excellence in child abuse response and protection through services, education, and leadership.

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline and carries out programs to prevent sexual assault, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.

Internet Safety

InternetMatters

A resource for parents, kids, and teens on how to navigate the internet safely. The site even includes age-specific online safety checklists and guides on how to set parental controls on a range of devices.

Bark

While nothing can replace having open communication and a strong relationship with your child, if you are looking for a parental control tool, check out Bark.

NetSmartz

This comprehensive website has information for parents, educators, law enforcement, teens, and kids. The site is vibrant and interactive with easy to read educational pages, real stories, and videos. It’s available in Spanish too.