24-Hour Crisis Line: (336) 228-0360

 

What we believe

The CrossRoads Children’s Advocacy Center strongly believes that child maltreatment is a community problem, and the center is committed to confronting it in a manner that builds strong ties among agencies involved in intervention while ensuring less trauma to the child and his or her family during an investigation and the healing process.

 

Interagency Coordination

Under a written agreement with local agencies, clients involved in cases of child maltreatment are referred to the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC).  The CAC provides a child-friendly location for interviewing victims along with necessary equipment and tools the investigators may need to perform a thorough investigation.  This process decreases the number of interviews a child must participate in as well as the number of different people a child must discuss difficult information with.  All involved disciplines can coordinate their efforts and reduce the emotional effect of an investigation on the child victims and their non-offending family members.  This team approach facilitates victim recovery through the use of a consistent and safe environment for interviews as well as strengthening the chance for successful criminal prosecution through more detailed investigations.

All cases that come through the CAC are staffed at weekly Review Team meetings where recommendations for further investigation and/or treatment are made.  The Review Team meets at the CrossRoads office and is coordinated by CrossRoads staff.  The team consists of professionals who respond to child maltreatment including representatives from the following areas: Alamance County District Attorney’s office, Alamance County Department of Social Services, Cardinal Innovations, law enforcement agencies, Guardian ad Litem, and Alamance Regional Medical Center.

Child-friendly waiting area

CrossRoads has a child-friendly waiting area with a variety of toys and books that are appropriate for various ages along with a television and DVD player. There is also an interview/counseling room especially designed for children that has smaller furniture and age appropriate interviewing tools. The CAC has video/audio taping capabilities along with a “talk back” system where the interviewer is wired with an earpiece so that observers can communicate directly with the interviewer without being disruptive to the interview itself.

 

Nationally Certified

CrossRoads’ CAC opened in 1996 and is a nationally accredited center certified by the National Children’s Alliance (formerly the National Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers).

 

Therapy pet

Sophie is by far the most popular “staff” member that CrossRoads has!  Many of the clients here are excited to see her when they come in for services.  Sophie is registered as a greeter therapy pet. She is the first therapy pet to be on staff at a NC child advocacy center.