CAC Development

The following is a check-list that has been developed by the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) which summarizes the tasks that need to be completed in establishing a Children’s Advocacy Center. While the activities are listed in approximate order, some will need to take place concurrently, and there will be variations within each community.
 
1. Convene a working committee or task force of key individuals
2. Select leadership
3. Conduct a needs assessment
of the extent of the problem in the community
4. Develop statements of vision and mission
5. Determine CAC service population
6. Gather information on various CAC models
7. Select the CAC approach that best fits the community
8. Develop interagency agreement and obtain agency commitment
9. Determine organizational structure
10. Determine which services will be offered
on-site or through referrals
11. Select site and design
or acquire space for child-appropriate facility
12. Determine staffing needs and agency roles
13. Multi-disciplinary team protocol development
14. Research potential sources of support
15. Plan and carry out resource development
16. Plan and carry out resource development
17. Development of governance board or advisory structure
18. Develop policies and procedures for security
and safe-guards (internal financial controls, liability insurance, conflict of interest policies, etc.)
19. Volunteer recruitment, screening, and training development
20. Provide training for program staff and the community
21. Consider providing child abuse prevention programming
22. Develop program evaluation and accountability plan
23. Cultivate leadership on ongoing basis
Anyone who is interested in the development of a CAC should contact the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois at (217)528-2224 as soon as possible. This will place you in contact with and allow you to benefit from the experience of the established CACs in Illinois and their collaborative agents.

 

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