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The Child Abuse Library Online, CALiO™, is the leading source for authoritative research, resources and other materials that promote evidence-based practice and the multidisciplinary coordinated response to child maltreatment. 

CAC Development and Management

NCAC Collections, Other*

Victim Advocacy Toolkit

Agatston, A. (2023). Legal Guidebook for Children’s Advocacy Centers. Huntsville, AL:
National Children’s Advocacy Center.

National Children’s Advocacy Center. (2016). NCAC Compensation and Benefits Survey Report. Huntsville, AL: Author.  

Other 

Andrew Agatston’s Legal Letters

Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. (2018). A multidisciplinary team approach to the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases involving recantation. Washington, DC: Author. 

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi & West Virginia Child Advocacy Network (2017). Field Guide to Family Advocacy. Author.  

 Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi & West Virginia Child Advocacy Network (2017). Supervisor Manual for the Field Guide to Family Advocacy. Author.

Publications from the National Children's Alliance

National Childrens' Alliance. (2024). Annual Report, 2023. Washington, DC: Author.

National Childrens’ Alliance. (2023). Strategic Plan 2023-2028. Washington, DC: Author.

National Childrens’ Alliance. (2023). Working with Military Families-A Toolkit for Victim Advocates. Washington, DC: Author.

National Childrens’ Alliance. (2022). Healing, Justice, & Trust A National Report on Outcomes for Children’s Advocacy Centers. Washington, DC: Author.

National Childrens’ Alliance. (2022). National Standards of Accreditation for Children’s Advocacy Centers, 2023 ed. Washington, DC: Author.

National Childrens’ Alliance. (2022).  Putting Standards into Practice: A Guide to Implementing the 2023 National Standards of Accreditation for Children’s Advocacy Centers.  Washington, DC: Author.

National Children’s Alliance. (2019). Healing, Justice, & Trust -A National Report on Outcomes for Children’s Advocacy Centers 2019. Full Report. Washington, DC: Author.  

National Children’s Alliance. (2019). Status of CAC-military partnerships. Washington, DC: Author. 

National Children’s Alliance. (2019). Thriving Kids 2019: A National Report on Mental Health Outcomes in Children’s Advocacy Centers. Washington, DC: Author.  

National Children’s Alliance. (2018). Standards for Accredited Chapter Members-Including Guidelines for Achievement of Standards 2020 Edition. Washington, DC: Author.   

National Children’s Alliance. (2018). Child Physical Abuse: A Guide to the CAC Response. Washington, DC: Author.  

National Children’s Alliance (2017). Children’s Advocacy Center Directors’ Guide to Quality Mental Healthcare. Washington, DC: Author.  

National Children’s Alliance (2017). Legislative Advocacy Toolkit for CACs. Washington, DC: Author.  

National Children’s Alliance and Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (2017). Evidence based mental health treatments for child abuse victims: A quick reference guide for multidisciplinary teams and brokers. Washington, DC: Author.  

National Children’s Alliance and Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (2017). Ensuring the Well Being of Children: A Comprehensive Approach to Trauma-Informed Care for CACs. Washington, DC: Author.  

National Childrens’ Alliance. (2016).Standards for Accredited Members, 2017 ed.  Washington, DC: Author.  

National Childrens’ Alliance. (2016).  Putting Standards into Practice: A Guide to Implementing the 2017 Standards for Accredited Members. Washington, DC: Author.  

 Boeskin, B., Edwards, D., Laird, W., & Lounsbury, K. (2016). Snapshot 2017: Advocacy, Efficacy, and Funding in CACs. Washington, DC: National Children’s Alliance. 

 National Children’s Alliance. (2016). A National Report on Outcomes for Children’s Advocacy Centers, 2016. Washington, DC: Author. 

 National Children’s Alliance (2016). Healing, Justice, & Trust Brief. Washington, DC: Author.  

Regional CAC Publications

Miller, B., Brymer, M., Louie, K., & Hangartner, K. (2024). Psychological First Aid Guide for Children's Advocacy Center Supervisors. Huntsville, AL: Southern Regional Children's Advocacy Center.

Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center. (2024). The STS Blueprint: A Guide to Addressing Secondary Traumatic Stress in Children's Advocacy Centers. Huntsville, AL: Author.

Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center. (2023). Emergency Preparedness and Response Guide for Children’s Advocacy Centers. Huntsville, AL: Author.

Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center. (2023). Human Resources Toolkit for Nonprofit Children’s Advocacy Centers. Huntsville, AL: Author.

Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers. (2023). Resources for meeting the victim support and advocacy standard. 

Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center. (2022). Recruiting, Hiring, Supervising, and Retaining Remote Therapists for Rural Children’s Advocacy Centers.

Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center. (2021). Task Sharing in a Children’s Advocacy Center: The Role of Victim Advocates in Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Children & Families. San Diego, CA: Author.

Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center. (2020). Moving to Telemental Health in a Child Advocacy Center Environment. San Diego, CA: Author.

Sites, J., & Widdifield, J. (2020). Children with Problematic Sexual Behavior: Recommendations for the Multidisciplinary Team and Children’s Advocacy Center Response. Southern
Regional Children’s Advocacy Center and Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth.

Sites, J., & South, G. (2019). Listen and Learn: A Process for Initiating Collaboration between Tribal Communities and Children’s Advocacy Centers. Huntsville, AL: Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center.

National Children’s Alliance and Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (2017). Ensuring the Well Being of Children: A Comprehensive Approach to Trauma-Informed Care for CACs. Washington, DC: Author.

Northeast Regional Child Advocacy Center. (2016). Developing Yourself as a CAC Leader. Philadelphia, PA: Author.  

The Foundation Directory Online

https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/

is available to CAC staff/ MDT members and partner agency staff.

The Foundation Directory Online is updated weekly and provides the
most accurate details available on U.S. funders and their grants.

To request access to the Foundation Directory Online, please contact a librarian at calio@nationalcac.org.  Alternatively, you can call NCAC at (256) 533-5437 Monday through Friday, 8:00a – 5:00p Central Time, and request that a message be sent to a librarian as soon as possible.

NOTE: The directory supports two simultaneous users. Please log out when you finish your session, so that others may have access.

Best Practices and Guidelines

Adoption of evidence-based practices, whenever possible, has been encouraged for all organizations that provide services to the public. Unlike medical care, which has a long and robust tradition of research to inform protocols, research related to prevention, investigation and treatment pertaining to child abuse is relatively new and incomplete.

The resources identified in this portion of CALiO are selected as convenient starting point for developing local protocols and practices. They should be reviewed on the basis of the evidence upon which they depend. They should also be considered within the context of their appropriateness for local implementation.

The National Children’s Advocacy Center cannot verify the veracity of evidence upon which the listed resources are based. Listing of documents here should not be interpreted as validation or recommendation. In some cases, the resources identified are included because they are the only guidelines available.

Prevention

Selected resources on best practices for prevention of child abuse and neglect, including school and visitation programs. View Resources

Forensic Interviewing

Guidelines for forensic interviewing of child victims. View Resources

Medical Assessment

Standard protocols and assessment techniques for health professionals in cases of suspected abuse. View Resources

Treatment

Evidence-based approaches to the treatment of abused and traumatized children. View Resources