Main

Our
History

The Center

2003 Report

Healing
Process

Donations

How we
Measure
Success

Sign
Guest Book

         
The Arvada Child Advocacy Center
10795 West 58th Avenue    Arvada, CO 80004    (720) 898-6741    fax (303) 432-7992

The Advocacy Center began as a pilot project in 1989 when it became apparent to Arvada professionals that the complexity of sexual abuse cases required a multi-agency focus particularly when working with small children.

Up until this time when a child sexual abuse report was made the child was sent to many different locations to talk with different people and then required to repeat their difficult disclosure again and again to a variety of professionals.  Discussing sexual abuse is extremely difficult for adult to do and when asking children to do the same, a great deal of sensitivity, though and expertise is needed for the process.

Research showed that other communities in the nation had addressed this problem by setting up sexual abuse receiving centers where the child is taken to one location and the professionals involved meet and do the investigative process together combining expertise and thus minimizing the child’s trauma during the disclosure process.  This process is not only less traumatizing to the children but fewer cases get lost in the process because of the efficiency of the professionals working together.

When the Arvada Child Advocacy Center project began it was one of two centers in the State of Colorado.  It involved professionals from the Arvada Police Department, Victim Services unit, Social Services, District Attorney’s Office and an on-call physician from Children’s Hospital.
 

In the fall of 1995, Arvada entered into an agreement with the Jefferson County Children’s Advocacy Center for a full-time, on-site therapist and began offering services to the entire Jefferson County area.  Jefferson County includes eight law enforcement agencies, social services and district attorney’s offices.  The smaller mountain communities in Gilpin and Clear Creek counties along the I-70 corridor are also assisted.  All agencies have a choice to use either of the two advocacy centers based on convenience or availability.  The partnership between the two advocacy centers is intended to reach more kids throughout the counties.  In Jefferson County there are approximately 4000 reported cases of child abuse and neglect each year, not all of which need the services of the advocacy centers, however, by the two centers working cooperatively, approximately 400 children are served annually.

The center is equipped with a combined medical exam room and office where forensic exams can be performed by a contracted pediatrician.  This component offers one more direct service to the young child victim at the advocacy center thus eliminating the need of taking the child to be examined in a crowded emergency room or by another strange person.  The pediatrician is available for emergencies as well.  If physical evidence is found this will strengthen the case when going to trial and hopefully eliminate the need for the child to testify in court. 

Beginning as a pilot project, the advocacy center’s protocol has been continually fine-tuned throughout the thirteen years of serving young crime victims of sexual abuse.  The center’s friendly environment and home-like atmosphere has proven to be effective when working with young children.  The center is accessible 24-hours a day for use.  The professional staff avail themselves in cases of emergency situations.  Sexual abuse of children is a community issue that everyone should be aware of and sensitive to the needs of these young victims within each community.