CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER FOR OSCEOLA COUNTY EARNS ACCREDITATION
FROM NATIONAL CHILDREN’s ALLIANCE... 
National Children’s Alliance recognizes the Children’s Advocacy Center for Osceola County for its delivery of high quality and effective services to child abuse victims through accreditation……. Kissimmee, FL (June 27, 2012) – Children’s Advocacy Center for Osceola County, Inc.has been awarded accreditation by the National Children’s Alliance following an extensive application and site review process.  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 the 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 the National Children’s Alliance and denotes excellence in service provision.
 In 2001, the local Children’s Advocacy Center began as a task force spearheaded by local law enforcement and community stakeholders, when they recognized the need for a local center to care for the most vulnerable victims of crime in Osceola County.  Since 2003, the local CAC has served Osceola County residents in proud partnership with members of the child abuse response team.    In 2011, over 800 forensic services were provided out of the CAC and 269 new cases were referred for child advocacy services.  The local CAC also runs a child abuse and neglect prevention task force to reduce child abuse incidents in Osceola County.   As an Accredited Member of the National Children’s’ Alliance, the Children’s Advocacy Center for Osceola County is dedicated to providing comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate service to victims of child abuse.
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.  National Children’s Alliance updated these standards in 2010 to reflect the most recent evidence-based practices in the field of child abuse intervention and prevention.  According to these standards, Accredited Members must utilize a functioning and effective Multidisciplinary 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.
 “As an organization tasked with the great responsibility of responding to child abuse in the most compassionate and competent manner, the Children’s Advocacy Center for Osceola County, Inc.  recognizes the importance of accreditation from the National Children’s Alliance.  This accreditation not only validates the organization’s proven effective approach to responding to allegations of child abuse, but also provides consistency across the CAC movement as a whole,” said Joy Chuba, Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center for Osceola County, Inc. 
“The Children’s Advocacy Center for Osceola County Inc. is to be commended for its excellent work serving victims of child abuse.  As the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers across the country, our goal is to ensure that every victim of child abuse has access to high quality services that result from professional collaboration,” remarked Teresa Huizar, Executive Director of the National Children’s Alliance.