The National Children's Alliance provides training, support, technical assistance, and leadership on a national level to local centers and strongly believes that the combined professional wisdom and skill of the multidisciplinary team approach results in a more complete understanding of case issues and the most effective child and family-focused system response possible.

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Who we are​

We began in 1998 as a group of concerned Helena, Montana, residents, including professionals from child protective services, law enforcement and prosecution, pediatricians, mental health providers, domestic violence clinicians, a multidisciplinary team coordinator, and child advocates. Since that time, our network of support has grown to include the local FBI.

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We are a team of compassionate professionals who respond to child victims of abuse using forensically sound protocols and procedures to reduce the traumatization of children.

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What we do​

Rather than have a child brought from agency to agency and office to office regarding a concern of abuse, AWARE's Lewis and Clark County Children's Advocacy Center brings those parties to the child. The interviews are done in a consolidated, efficient manner while the family is offered support services.

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The team is situated in a separate room, avoiding the intimidation of an overwhelming presence. The child is interviewed and evaluated in a comfortable, kid-friendly room by a professional who is skilled with whatever specifics the child brings to each different case. This interview is recorded by a subtly placed camera and fed to the other professionals on the team, thus eliminating the need for a trip to their respective offices throughout the city.

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Why we do it​

We do it because we—a group of concerned professionals—believe that caring for a child who has been victimized doesn’t need to be dominated by red tape, which is ours to deal with, not the child’s or family’s. We do it because children are vulnerable, and helping them should be hopeful, not intimidating.  Most importantly, we do it because child abuse is a community problem. No single agency, individual, or discipline has all the skills or resources to provide the assistance needed by abused children and their families

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We want to help families walk confidently through the midst of crisis, offering them help and hope.

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Our Partners​

A multidisciplinary approach to these crises requires an extraordinary level of dedication and hard work on the part of all those involved.

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Without the cooperation of the following partners, the efforts of AWARE’s Lewis and Clark County Children’s Advocacy Center would not be possible.

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• Lewis and Clark County Attorney’s Office

• Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Department

• Helena Police Department

• Federal Bureau of Investigation

• Region IV Child and Family Services

• Montana Division of Criminal Investigation— Special Services Bureau

• Lewis and Clark County Office of Juvenile Probation

• Helena Pediatric Clinic

• Partners in Pediatrics

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For more information contact:

Paula Samms, LCPC - Director

Lewis & Clark County Child Advocacy Center

helenacac@Aware-inc.org

406.693.0028

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(Children)