CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER

Children grow and learn best in families with the support and skills to deal with the difficult times that every family experiences. At Lotus, we partner with caregivers to build protective factors and cope with stressors so families are resilient and children thrive.

Legal advocates help victims and their caregivers navigate the legal system and make important decisions. They’re here to help you understand all of your rights and options. With court education, case tracking, updates and court accompaniment, you will feel confident and supported throughout the criminal and civil justice processes.

Our forensic interview team is trained to help children feel safe and comfortable as they begin talking about their experiences. The forensic interview will determine if a specialized medical exam is needed. Medical evaluations are offered on-site in our offices by highly trained board-certified physicians. Our medical services help reassure children and caregivers that their bodies are okay. Our Child Advocacy team will offer guidance for follow up care and services.

Child Forensic Interview:

A child forensic interview is provided to children who may have experienced abuse or witnessed violence or a crime. As part of a larger investigation, it gives children the opportunity to talk about their experiences in a way that is child-centered, legally sound, and only requires the child to share their experiences one time, with one person. 

The forensic interview is provided by a licensed mental health professional, and puts your child’s mental health and wellbeing first. This appointment may include mental health screenings & support, crisis management, or referrals for therapy or other support.

Extended Forensic Interviews:

Not every child can relay their experiences in a single session, because every child is different and has different needs. The extended interview process offers the same child focused, legally sound method of interviewing children, broken up over 2-5 appointments or sessions. Depending on the circumstances, we may talk with you about this or other options.

Specialized Child Medical Examinations:

Children referred to Lotus by Social Services and/or Law Enforcement may receive a medical exam by a physician who has specialized training on current techniques, procedures, and diagnoses of child abuse trauma. Medical evaluations are offered on site in our offices. During these appointments, the physician explains what the medical examination will involve, helps reassure the child and caregivers that their bodies are okay, and may provide testing or referrals depending on the needs of the child. Caregivers are involved throughout this process.

Child abuse and other forms of childhood trauma can have lifelong effects on children, families, and communities. Research shows a strong relationship between childhood trauma and serious outcomes such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, substance abuse, physical health programs, and even poverty and death. The good news is that we can prevent these outcomes which is why our early intervention services are so important. Evidence-based mental health treatments like those delivered at Lotus to child victims of abuse and caregivers can significantly reduce trauma symptoms and prevent the long-term effects of exposure to trauma.

At Lotus, we provide a holistic approach to healing and wellness which includes therapy techniques and wellness practices addressing the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual effects of their experiences. In a nurturing environment, our healing services are designed to help survivors build resources, change behaviors, and use the body as a tool for recovery. Expressive arts and play therapies fosters learning and self-expression and builds on the natural way that people learn about themselves and their relationships in the world around them. Mindfulness and movement can bring new depth to healing and inner resilience helping to bring survivors back into their bodies, to interact with the world around them, to tell their stories in a language other than spoken words, and to begin trusting others again. Survivors gain a new sense of belonging and develop a sense of community that strengthens them as they overcome the challenges of trauma.

Some of the evidence-based therapy treatments we provide are:

• Trauma-focused Cognitive Therapy
• EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) Therapy
• SMART (Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment)
• Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy

We also offer opportunities to engage the mind, body and spirit through a variety of creative and expressive activities.

Some of the practices we use are:

• Play therapy
• Sand tray therapy
• Expressive arts therapies
• Yoga and movement
• Mindfulness and meditation training
• Regulation training

For caregivers, we also offer individual, family, and group therapy services. During this time it is vital for you to take care of yourself, as well as your child. Contact us or ask your family to advocate for more information about these services.

Talk with your child’s Lotus therapist or advocate. Get started with these two resources:

• What Every Caregiver Should Know About Child Sexual Abuse
• Parenting a Child Who has Experienced Abuse or Neglect

Remember, by law, if you believe a child may have experienced abuse, you must report this concern to the authorities.

Signs that a child is being sexually abused are often present, but they can be hard to tell from other signs of child stress, distress, or trauma. Knowing what to look for can help.

Learn More

When a child discloses their sexual abuse to you, it means that they trust you. It’s important to react in a responsible way that’s reassuring to the child.

Learn More