In April 2025, ASSIST Indiana formally took over responsibility for being Johnson County’s sole Child Advocacy Center, or CAC for short.
There are over two dozen CACs around Indiana. ASSIST’s CAC serves about 75 kids and families in Johnson and surrounding counties each year after a child is victim of or witness to a crime.
Like all of ASSIST’s services, our CAC work is done at no-cost. But cases come to our CAC for specialized services, and they come to our door a little differently than others.
Here’s how the CAC works:
1. Abuse occurs
A child discloses to someone they’ve been abused or an informed report of abuse is made to law enforcement or Indiana DCS.
We often experience an increase in reports after one of our in-school child abuse prevention education programs.
Only DCS or law enforcement can request a forensic interview.
2. A forensic interview is scheduled
The child and non-offending caregivers come to ASSIST for a forensic interview.
This interview asks non-leading questions in a safe, comfortable space.
More about forensic interviews3. An investigation and prosecution continues
The interview is recorded for investigators, prosecutors, and potentially as evidence for court.
This interview ensures kids don’t have to repeat their experience sharing traumatic details. It also reduces secondary trauma.
4. An Advocate stays with the family
ASSIST assigns an Advocate to the child and their family. This Advocate helps them with anything they need, including emergency shelter, clothing, and more.
More about Advocates5. Medical and mental health is available
ASSIST provides child forensic medical exams and mental health counseling.
More about medical examsWhat’s most unique about ASSIST is how so much of our services are co-located on-site. All CACs provide forensic interviews and Victim Advocates to kids and families. And nearly all of them provide some kind of medical and mental health referral.
But because ASISST has counselors and medical providers on-site, we’re one of only about half a dozen in Indiana offering everything right here at our office. And all of it is available at no-cost.
