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Mental Illness Awareness Week
Mental Illness Awareness Week is October 4-10. This blog post contains mental health resources as well as a Q&A from our Mental Health Coordinator, Hannah Griffis!
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We Heal
Children come first in everything we do.
Victim Services
The CARE Center is Oklahoma County’s child advocacy center committed to helping children find their voice and begin to heal after abuse.
When a child experiences abuse, law enforcement or DHS refers to The CARE Center for our victim services of forensic interviews, medical exams, family advocacy, and mental health services.
We work together with our multidisciplinary team of law enforcement investigators, child protective service workers, assistant district attorneys, medical professionals, mental health professionals, and family advocacy personnel on the investigation, treatment, and management of child abuse cases. We are here to ensure the best possible outcome for children, while creating a caring, supportive, and safe environment for the brave children we serve.
Child advocacy centers serve more than 370,000 children each year and Oklahoma child advocacy centers served more than 7,000 children in 2017.
Our Mission
Every child has a future, we educate. Every child has a voice, we listen.
Our Vision
To end child abuse in Oklahoma County.
Types of Abuse
- Sexual Abuse
- Physical Abuse
- Witness to Violence/Death
- Neglect
- Witness to Sexual Abuse
- Drug Endangerment
- Child Pornography
- Kidnapping
- Human Trafficking
We Are the Child Abuse Experts
At The CARE Center, we believe every child has a voice, and we are here to listen. In an effort to support the healing process, we have created a calm, child-centered space, and in partnership with our multidisciplinary team, we offer holistic care for every child who visits The CARE Center.
Holistic care is provided at no cost to children and their families.
Forensic Interview
Mental Health
Advocacy Services
Medical Exam
We Make an Impact
Throughout the years, we've helped thousands of children and families confront and overcome abuse and neglect.
2019 Victim Services impact
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Medical Exams
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Referred to Counseling
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Family Advocacy Sessions
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Total Forensic Interviews
total served
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ADULTS
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CHILDREN
What an Appointment Looks Like:
Play Orientation
After a snack and a drink, each child receives one-on-one playtime. Our playrooms are filled with toys, activities, and entertainment for all ages as well as two playgrounds. As your child plays, you will be asked to complete some basic paperwork. Once the child is comfortable, a forensic interviewer will introduce herself and escort the child to a forensic interview room. Parents and guardians are not allowed in the interview. At the end of an appointment, children are welcome to continue to play, and every child leaves The CARE Center with a brand new stuffed animal and a Brave Pack, a few items reminding children that they are strong, courageous, and brave.
Forensic Interview
The forensic interview is the cornerstone of our work at The CARE Center. An audio- and video-recorded forensic interview is conducted in a developmentally appropriate, non-leading or intrusive setting. Forensic interviewers are highly trained to keep the child comfortable while working to obtain accurate information to support the investigation process. This eliminates the need for the child to tell their abuse story over and over again. We have two Spanish-speaking forensic interviewers on staff but can accommodate any language. We will also work with your family to address any additional barriers or special needs of your child.
Specialized Advocacy
During your child's forensic interview, you will meet with a specialized family advocate for personalized resource referrals, access to The Lion's Den, our resource room, and many other services. Every resource is designed to alleviate barriers so healing can become your family's top priority. Your family advocate will be available for the life of your case.
Mental Health Services
Emotional support from a trusted adult is critical for children moving forward after trauma. The CARE Center provides on-site, trauma-informed mental health services for children and families. Our Mental Health Coordinator does an observational assessment and brief session with children who have mental or emotional health needs in order to determine the best off-site counseling referral for them to begin to heal.
Medical Exams
After advocacy and the interview, it may be necessary for your child to have a medical exam. Proper medical attention is vital to your child’s holistic healing, and even if the abuse is no longer physically present, we find that medical exams are an important part of the healing process - an opportunity for your child to hear "your body is okay." Our medical coordinator is a certified P-SANE (Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) and offers every child who visits the opportunity for a medical exam. More severe physical abuse cases will be seen by a physician at Children's Hospital less than a mile from campus.
Education
With more than 25 years of experience providing services to victims of child abuse, we are working to end this epidemic through prevention education programs. Every family will leave The CARE Center with the tools and resources to help ensure abuse prevention moving forward. Our educational trainings are also available free of charge to children and adults throughout the community.
Resources
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Advocacy
LGBTQIA+ Youth & Parent Resources
This blog post serves as a resource for LGBTQIA+ youth and parents. In this blog post you’ll find terminology and definitions as well as local (Oklahoma City) and national resources.
Advocacy
Pool & Water Safety
It’s always the right time to brush up on how to childproof your pool, maintain a safe swimming environment and ward off tragic accidents.
COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19 Safety Measures
The health and safety of our children, families and staff is of the utmost importance to us. Read more about our staff’s COVID-19 safety procedures here.
News
First Lady Joins CARE Center Mission to Help Abused Kids
First Lady Sarah Stitt has joined the CARE Center’s mission as an honorary member of the Board of Directors.
Advocacy
Furniture Tip-Overs: Myths vs. Facts & How to Prevent Accidents
Preventable injuries are the number one cause of child death in the U.S. One of these threats is furniture tip-over. Read this article to learn myths vs. facts of furniture tip-over and ways to prevent accidents like this from occurring in your house.
