Book Description

Childrens Advocacy Center professionals face extraordinary challenges as they dedicate their working lives to helping children who have made allegations of sexual and physical abuse. Effective CACs employ a multi-disciplinary team approach to the investigation, treatment, and prevention of child sexual abuse. But we know that child abuse allegations are often settled in the courtroom, and the road toward the courtroom can be confusing and complicated for CAC professionals and their centers, which often lack qualified and competent legal counsel to pave their wave. This book is a collection of Legal Letters written by Attorney Andrew Agatston to CACs, child advocates and detectives that establishes a path toward becoming Legal Eagles for the children they serve. "In practical understandable prose, Andrew Agatston addresses many of the legal challenges facing Childrens Advocacy Centers. Executive directors, forensic interviewers and others who work in or with a CAC will find this book to be of great assistance." -- Victor Vieth, Director, National Child Protection Training Center "The Childrens Advocacy Center model has revolutionized the United States resposne system to child sexual abuse, and this shift has dramatically impacted the legal systems response to these children, the programs which serve them, and the records associated with this service. This book provides an outstanding overview of numerous challenging legal situations which CACs may face in this environment. While focused on the perspective of current practice in the State of Georgia, these challenges are universal, and this comprehensive compilation, written in an easy to understand format, is a must have for every CAC and its legal counsel." -- Chris Newlin, MS LPC, Executive Director, National Childrens Advocacy Center