Mission

To provide a child-friendly, culturally respectful place where caring professionals work together to help children, families and communities affected by abuse.

What is a Child Advocacy center?

The Kawerak Child Advocacy center is a child-friendly, culturally respectful place where caring professionals work together, in one location, to help children and families cope with sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, and exposure to violence.

Referrals are made to the center from the Nome Police Department, AK State troopers, Office of Children's Services (OCS), and tribal Courts. The referring system will then contact the center to make appointments for forensic interviewing, medical examinations and assessment for treatment services.The center provides a comprehensive multidisciplinary team (MDT) evaluation for child sexual or severe physical abuse concerns with the goal of reducing trauma to children. This may include a forensic interview, medical examination, victim advocacy, counseling support/referrals, and follow up for children and families.

Center Staff

The center staff provides:

• Advocacy for the Child
• Bilingual Interpreters As Requested
• Child & Family Counseling Referrals
• Education, training and Information
• Regional Prevention Activities
• Long-Term Follow-up Support
• Serves on the DFYS Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)
• Coordinating Team Meetings
• Lodging Stipends for Client Families

FORENSIC INTERVIEW

To eliminate multiple interviews of a child, the center offers one location for forensic interviews to take place with specially trained interviewers.

MEDICAL EXAM

The Norton Sound Health Corporation (NSHC) Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) provides forensic medical examinations at the center. The exam room is child-friendly and confidential. A child will NEVER be forced to undergo a medical exam or interview.

INVESTIGATIVE REVIEW TEAM

An identified interagency team meets monthly to review case information and makes recommendations for follow up services and treatment.