Four Corners Child Advocacy Center has been awarded re-accreditation by National Children's Alliance following an extensive application and site review. 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 National Children's Alliance and denotes excellence in service provision.
Accredited CACs must undergo a re-accreditation process every five years to ensure that best practices are continually being applied. With accreditation standards being updated in 2010, re-accreditation this year reflects Four Corners Child Advocacy's Center commitment to providing evidence-based practices.
Four Corners Child Advocacy Center has been coordinating child abuse investigations in Montezuma County since 1993. The child abuse investigation team consists of Montezuma Department of Social Services, Cortez Police Department, Montezuma County Sheriff's Department, District Attorney's Office, local mental health professionals and medical providers. The Center will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary in August 2013. As an Accredited Member of National Children's Alliance, Four Corners Child Advocacy Center is dedicated to providing comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate services to victims of child abuse.
"As a team of individuals and agencies dedicated to responding to child abuse, we recognize the importance of maintaining accredited status from National Children's Alliance. Re-accreditation not only validates our organization's dedication to proven effective approaches of child abuse intervention and prevention, but also contributes to consistency across the child advocacy center movement as a whole," said Rose Jergens, Executive Director of Four Corners Child Advocacy Center. "There is no way we could have accomplished this without our agency partners," Jergens added.
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.
"Four Corners Child Advocacy Center 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 insure that every victim of child abuse has access to high quality services that result from professional collaboration. By requiring accredited Centers to undergo re-accreditation every five years, we ensure that evidence-based practices are being implemented and the highest quality of services is being provided," remarked Teresa Huizar, Executive Director of National Children's Alliance.
For more information about Four Corners Child Advocacy Center (The NEST), visit www.nestcac.org.