Offers a full child abuse continuum of care, from prevention to intervention to treatment. The goal is to prevent child abuse and to intervene effectively when abuse occurs. Effective intervention helps to minimize re-victimization by the systems designed to protect child victims. Prevention services take place in the home, in the community and in the school system. Intervention and treatment services for children who have been sexually or severely physically abused are provided on-site at SWVACAC locations within the Mountain Empire Older Citizens office complex in Big Stone Gap, in Clintwood and in Jonesville. The multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach brings together, under one umbrella, all the professionals and agencies needed to offer comprehensive services: law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, victim advocacy and the medical community. A specially trained professional conducts forensic interviews with the child victim, while team members observe and participate from behind a one-way mirror. This approach reduces the number of times children must repeat their stories of abuse. The initial contact person and the safe atmosphere are critical in the efforts to gain children's confidence and trust. Forensic evaluations are also available for children who may need an additional interview, due to age or development. Forensic evaluations resemble forensic interviews, but take place over a longer period of time. On-site therapy is provided to children who have been victims of abuse by a licensed, clinical social worker. Mental health treatment services include short-term mental health therapy, crisis intervention, assessment, case management, safety planning, criminal justice support and advocacy. Because child abuse does not affect only the child, but the entire family, the CAC also offers the Family Advocate program. This program provides case management, education and support to parents/caregivers to help them better understand the impact of child abuse. Treatment may consist of a variety of age appropriate therapies, including play/expressive, forensically sensitive, cognitive behavioral and other trauma-focused therapies. Parents/caregivers are vital to the healing process. Educating parents/caregivers about the impact of child abuse helps them to better understand a traumatized child's behaviors and how they can most effectively help their child to overcome the stress that abuse creates on a daily basis. Parents/caregivers also learn how to manage their own feelings and stress related to the abuse.