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.
CAC Succession Planning
CAC Leadership Transition Tips
CAC Succession Plan Sample
Chapter Leadership Transition TIPS
Consideration for CAC Boards when Hiring a New Director
Information and Contact Inventory Form
Planning for Leadership Transition RCACs
Sample slides for CAC Borad Trainings on Succession Planning
Succession Planning in the CAC Environment
Succession Planning Notes
Cultural Competency
Prevention
Selected resources on best practices for prevention of child abuse and neglect, including school and visitation programs. read more
Interviewing
Guidelines for forensic interviewing of child victims. read more
Medical Assessment
Standard protocols and assessment techniques for health professionals in cases of suspected abuse. read more
Treatment
Evidence-based approaches to the treatment of abused and traumatized children. read more
Other
Research in Evidence-Based Programming – A look at how scholarly research influences policy and practice
Evaluation – A Resource for Evaluating Child Advocacy Centers
Research to Practice – Video and Slide presentations of current research affecting practice
Understanding Evidence Part 1: Best Available Research Evidence. A Guide to the Continuum of Evidence of Effectiveness. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This document, written by R. W. Puddy and N. Wilkins, explains the purpose and meaning of the Continuum of Evidence of Effectiveness, a tool that was developed to facilitate a common understanding of what the Best Available Research Evidence means in the field of violence prevention. A separate PDF of the Chart “Continuum of Evidence of Effectiveness” found with this document is also available.
100 Best Practices in Child Protection:A series of 100 Best Practices. Vol III. (2013).The Protection Project at The Johns Hopkins University, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies and The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children.
The Illinois Children’s Justice Task Force (2016). The urgent need in Illinois for unit-based multidisciplinary teams to investigate child abuse.