January 8, 2024 | By Emilie Jacques
Copper Shores Victim Support is proud to provide a Child Advocacy Center (CAC) for residents of the Copper Country. The CAC is a safe, comfortable and flexible space for children who are victims of sexual and physical abuse and their family members. In this space, a multidisciplinary team of law enforcement, Child Protective Services, prosecutors, Advocates, Forensic Interviewers, and medical and mental health personnel work together to help safeguard child wellbeing and safety.
Families are first guided into the family room where they can see resources and ask any questions they might have about the process with an Advocate. Childcare is provided onsite during this time. Guardians are able to meet with the multidisciplinary team to ask questions and get any clarifications about the logistics, legal and medical processes. Children are invited to the interview room, a soothing and safe space where they can talk about their experiences with a forensic interviewer.
“It’s a lot less intimidating for a child to come into this room as compared to going to an interview at a police station or at the MI Department of Health and Human Services,” said Paige Setter-Hallwachs, advocate at Copper Shores.
The entire space is designed to look more like a living room than an office, creating a comforting space for families, especially children. Copper Shores Forensic Interviewers conduct interviews with children of all ages on a regular basis, keeping up on training and staying knowledgeable on best practices.
The CAC can only accept referrals from law enforcement or Child Protective Services.
If you suspect child abuse or neglect
- Call 855-444-3911 as soon as possible to make a report.
- Visit this page to find a guide for making a report online. Online reporting is typically faster than making a report over the phone and can usually be completed in less than 20 minutes.
