Children’s Advocacy Center

Mission/History: The Redwood County Children’s Advocacy Center (Redwood County CAC), is the only Children’s Advocacy Center in the Southwest Region. The Redwood County Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) was established by a local multidisciplinary partnership to respond better to child abuse allegations back in 2011 thanks to the operating support from the Otto Bremer Foundation. The Redwood County CAC has been providing victim services to the area for the last 5 years. The Redwood County CAC was awarded in 2015 the Department of Public Safety Office of Justice Programs CAC expansion grant, to continue the accreditation process and hire a Coordinator to instrument National Children’s Alliance Standards to our daily function.  In 2016, the CAC was awarded the Crime Victims Services grant for 5 years to continue developing and serving child abuse victims in the SW Region of Minnesota.

We are currently in the accreditation process and expect to be fully accredited by 2018 by the National Children’s Alliance. The Redwood County CAC prides itself on catering to the needs of victims with exceptional victim services and advocacy practices in the Southwest Minnesota Region. We aspire to be culturally inclusive and provide services to underserved rural populations.

Multidisciplinary Team Approach: The Redwood CAC is a great community resource for victims of child abuse and their families in the Southwest Region of Minnesota to receive comprehensive, child first services. This multidisciplinary team approach protects the vulnerability of the child, assures that their voice is heard and immediate mental health and medical services are provided.

Modeled off of the structure set forth by the National Children’s Advocacy Center, the MDT is designed to meet the needs of child victims and their families and to reduce the trauma associated with childhood abuse. Collaboration occurs at all stages of response, including investigations, prosecutions, needs assessments, and medical and therapeutic interventions.

Central Minnesota’s MDT Response Sheet (PDF)

Forensic Interviewing: Redwood County CAC offers a safe and confidential environment for children, teens and vulnerable adults to talk about their experiences.

After a child abuse allegation report has been made to either Child Protection or Law Enforcement a referral is made to the Child Advocacy Center for a forensic interview. A forensic interview is a neutral, fact finding inquiry of a child, teen or vulnerable adult to discuss an experience they may have had.

The interviewer utilizes a child first approach to the interview and considers the developmental and emotional needs of the interviewee. This practice ensures that the needs of the interviewee are the focus of the investigation and also the reduction of additional trauma.

All interview recordings are also preserved in a digital archive, and a copy is provided to the primary investigators. Video-recordings ensure accurate documentation of the interview, which can decrease the potential trauma associated with repeated interviews, and strengthen the defensibility of the interview.

Advocacy: The Redwood County Children’s Advocacy Center will provide onsite 24-hour victim advocacy and support for families and victims. The RCCAC Family Advocate will engage with the families during the forensic interview and will follow up with the victims and family through the life of the case or until the family no longer needs advocacy services.

RCCAC Family Advocate will explain how the process works to the victim including information about the role of each MDT professional. The advocate may provide information clarification, throughout the duration of their service to the child and family. RCCAC has created and purchased a variety of brochures available for the issues they may be dealing with, such as restitution, impact statements, testifying, etc.

Our Multidisciplinary Team:

Attorney’s Office

• Jenna Haler

Child Advocacy Center

•  Coordinator/Advocate- Katie Salden
• Forensic Interviewer: Stacy Gareis

Child Protection:

• Southwest Health and Human Services -Becky Deterling

Law Enforcement:

• Redwood County Sheriff’s Department -Jason Jacobson
• Redwood Police Department- Dana Woodford

Mental Health:

• Western Mental Health Center-Megan Benedict

Community Resources:

Choices Pregnancy Center

Human Services/Public Health

Minnesota Women’s Indigenous Society – (507) 627-4357

New Horizons Crisis Center

W.R.A.P (Women’s Rural Advocacy Program)

Minnesota Children’s Advocacy Centers:

Central Minnesota Children’s Advocacy Center, Sartell MN

Cornerhouse Minneapolis, MN

Family Advocacy Center of Northern Minnesota, Bemidji Minnesota

First Witness, Duluth Minnesota

Mayo Clinic Child and Family Advocacy Center

Matty’s Place, Winona Minnesota

Midwest Children’s Resource Center

North Star Family Advocacy Center, Braham Minnesota

Red River Children’s Advocacy Center, Fargo North Dakota

State, Region and National Chapter’s

Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center

Minnesota Children’s Alliance

National Children’s Alliance