Macomb County Child Advocacy Center, Inc (dba: Care House of Macomb County)

CARE HOUSE MISSION

“To prevent and reduce the incidence and trauma of child sexual and physical abuse in Macomb County through collaborative, multi-disciplinary, and effective family-centered activities.”

CARE HOUSE is a child-friendly, family-centered facility that centralizes and coordinates the complex investigation, prosecution and treatment of child physical and/or sexual abuse. Our goals are to minimize the stress associated with the investigation, help the child and non-offending family members through the prosecution phase and provide support to begin the healing process. The traditional investigative process required the young victim to undergo multiple interviews and examinations, usually conducted in unfamiliar and frightening places like police departments or emergency rooms. As a result, the child repeatedly relived the details of the abuse, enduring more trauma.

CARE HOUSE provides a family-friendly, warm, supportive environment for forensic interviews. The interview is conducted by experienced, fact-finding specialists who understand a child’s developmental needs. Investigative professionals - law enforcement officers, child protective service workers and assistant prosecutors, along with Care House staff - observe the interview on closed circuit television.

CARE HOUSE also offers follow-up services for child victims and their parents; intervening to promote healing and helping families to cope with the emotional stress and trauma that is caused by not only the acts of abuse, but also the investigative process. Our support services include crisis counseling, child safety assessments, parent and child support groups, trauma-focused therapy sessions, family advocacy, access to forensic medical examinations, referrals to other needed community services, and child abuse prevention education. Care House assures that the safety, rights, dignity, and health recovery of child victims of abuse are the dominant focus of all services provided. Families are never charged for the services they receive at Care House.