Norfolk County Child Advocacy Center Recognized Nationally

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Norfolk County' child advocacy center in Foxborough was honored by the National Children's Alliance, earning re-accreditation, according to the Norfolk County District Attorney's office.

District Attorney Michael Morrissey said earning the accreditation means the county is providing victims of child abuse and sexual assault with "the best service and support possible."

"Child advocacy centers were created to provide compassionate, effective, sensitive support to children who have been sexually and physically abused, and support their non-offending family members," Morrissey said in a statement. "

"Being accredited by the National Children’s Alliance is a rigorous process of making certain that we are adhering to national best practices in our service to child victims and their families," added Joel Fishman, the board president for the Norfolk Advocates for Children.

Norfolk Advocates for Children is a public-private partnership between Morrissey’s office,the nonprofit the National Children's Alliance and more than 50 governmental and social service organizations – including all 27 municipal police departments in Morrissey's jurisdiction.

"This process helps us continue to grow and improve," Fishman said. "It also assures the families who use the NAC to help their children, the donors who support our mission and our partner organizations, that we are serving those children well."

The core work of child advocacy centers involve the interdisciplinary investigation of child abuse and sexual assaults.

"Years ago, children coming forward to report an assault could be interviewed first by a detective at a police station, then by a medical professional, then by child protective services or others,” said Jessica Kelly, the executive director of the National Children's Alliance.

"The goal of the multi-disciplinary approach used at the NAC is to limit the amount of times a child is interviewed,” Kelly added. "A trained forensic interviewer asks questions of the child in a neutral, non-leading, developmentally appropriate, and trauma-informed manner."

Kelly said all agencies involved in protecting the child are present and get the information they need at the same time. The partners communicate directly to the interviewer through an earpiece, as the interview unfolds allowing everyone to get the information they need while keeping in mind the child's well-being.

Children often find police stations, hospitals, and other institutions to be intimidating, Kelly said.

Now forensic interviews are video recorded and take place in a stand-alone, child-friendly, culturally-diverse facility. The Norfolk County center opened in 2010 on Payson Road in Foxborough. There is also a medical suite with services from sexual assault nurse examiners.

"Every time a child has to tell, then retell, the story of abuse, there is the potential for additional traumatization, and a child might interpret repeated questioning as not being believed," Morrissey said. "This allows us to collect the best evidence in the way least traumatic to the child, and then connect them with support and services, whether they decide to pursue a criminal case or not."

This re-accreditation status is effective for five years.