The CAC Wish List: What’s On It and How It Makes a Difference

Since opening its doors in 2010, the One Place Child Advocacy Center has served more than 3,100 abused and neglected children and their families.

The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) works to improve the lives of children and their families through a coordinated response to child abuse and neglect, offering a safe and friendly environment in which to heal. The CAC provides forensic interviews and comprehensive medical exams as well as advocacy services and referrals to mental health and other critical community resources to victims of child abuse and their families. All services are provided at no cost to families.

An essential part of the CAC is the warm and welcoming environment supported by a caring team of professionals with a child-focused, comfortable setting for everyone who walks through the doors no matter what their situation may be.

In an effort to better serve children and families in the CAC staff created an Amazon Wish List after realizing there was a need for items not covered by various funding streams that help provide a more comfortable environment and ease the forensic interview process. Additionally, staff often received requests from community partners and groups wanting to know more tangible ways to support the program and asking questions like “What can we donate?” or “What do you need?”

“There are people who do prefer to donate tangible items instead of money. They also love knowing the exact impact their donation had on an individual or organization,” said Marianne Hollingshead, support specialist at the CAC. “Donating $5 or $10 doesn’t feel like a huge impact – even though we know it really is because those dollars add up. But when they donate an item, or food, or a toy that will be used by children in the CAC, it feels warm and fuzzy because you know exactly how it will be used and who will be using it.”

The wish list contains items such as crayons, play-doh, markers, snacks, drinks, stress balls, and hygiene items. Staff ensure the list remains updated regularly, adding items based on need.

“Having these wish list items allows us to provide a safe and comfortable environment for these children to tell their stories and know that we will listen to them, where it’s not eliciting trauma and it is alleviating anxiety and angst about one of the most horrific events in their lives,” said Gretchen Pensante, forensic interviewer at the CAC.

The food and drinks on the list help ensure both children, families, and members of the multidisciplinary team who are on site for appointments are comfortable during their time at the CAC. A typical appointment at the CAC that includes a forensic interview and a medical exam lasts approximately four hours.

“We want them to be as comfortable as they can be, given the situation and the circumstances as to why they are there,” Hollingshead said. “They may not have stopped for breakfast or lunch before their appointment. We want everyone to know they are welcome. It’s just a simple gesture, offering coffee or snacks.”

The play-doh and crayons are used during some forensic interviews to help give the children a welcome distraction from the serious nature of the discussion and help build rapport with the forensic interviewer.

“I’m talking about the most traumatic events happening in these children’s lives and when you use play-doh, it takes the focus off of the actual topic of discussion to a more relaxed environment and alleviates that sense of anxiety and that pressure or feeling of interrogation,” Pensante said. “We’re just having a casual conversation. I’m mimicking what the child is doing while they’re playing with the play-doh. It allows them to have an open dialogue. They’re so enveloped in the interaction with the play-doh or the coloring it’s freer flowing while they’re sharing and talking about these horrific events.”

The stress balls and play-doh are also used by members of the multidisciplinary team who are on-site to listen to the forensic interviews in real-time.

“It’s difficult to sit back there listening to it. It is like secondary trauma. So the stuff that we offer the MDT partners makes a huge difference,” said Veronica Ortiz, project manager at the CAC and former investigative assessments social worker. “There were days when the disclosures were so awful. You sit there and listen back to back about horrible details of sexual and physical abuse and you can just see all the partners squeeze the stress ball.”

Fabric markers and t-shirts allow young children receiving a medical exam to decorate a shirt to wear during the exam instead of a sterile, paper medical gown. Bubbles provide a welcome distraction to younger children receiving medical exams who struggle to remain still during the process.

“We tell them to take a deep breath and blow out the bubbles,” Hollingshead said. “It helps them lay still and breathe so we can focus on whatever needs to happen during the exam.”

The hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, and tampons are provided both on-site and as takeaway items for those in need.

“Sometimes when kids come in they are in a transition state. Maybe they’re staying with a relative or (Department of Social Services) and they may not have all the comforts from home or they’re lacking certain items,” Hollingshead said. “We give them a little care package with hygiene items, snacks, etc. to send with them.”

The CAC also keeps a select few clothing items on hand, in case a bathroom accident occurs or in situations where the case is emergent and the victim’s clothes need to be retained for evidence. The wish list also has gift cards listed to help cover unexpected needs and expenses that may come up for families.

“We’re forever indebted and grateful for the continued support and the availability to allow these services to continue and provide an environment for these children to be comfortable in their most vulnerable time of their lives,” Pensante said. “The generosity doesn’t go unnoticed.”

For more information on the One Place Child Advocacy Center, visit https://www.oneplaceonslow.org/our-work/child-advocacy-center/

Click here to support the CAC with a gift from the Amazon Wish List.