Welcome to Your 1st Visit at Hope House
You and your child have been asked to come to Children’s Advocacy Center – Hope House because child abuse has been suspected and reported, and is now being investigated. The CAC houses the professionals who will help you and your child with the investigation, advocacy, and the healing process.
What to Expect During Your First Visit
At Hope House, we want to ensure that your first visit is as comfortable and informative as possible. Our dedicated staff will guide you through each step of the process, answering any questions you may have along the way.
Forensic Interview
The first step in the investigation is usually a forensic interview. CAC interviewers are compassionate and highly trained in professional forensic interviewing protocols. They talk to children and teens at their developmental level. Interviews are neutral and child-friendly.
Meeting with a Investigator
You will also meet with an investigator. We work closely with local law enforcement agencies and the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services to ensure the investigative needs are met for your family.
Therapy, Advocacy, & More
When you come to the CAC Hope House, you’ll learn about other services, like therapy and advocacy, which may help you and your child during this time. Our clinicians are highly trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, an evidence-based treatment designed to significantly reduce the impact of childhood trauma.
Forensic Medical Exam
In some cases, a forensic medical exam will be needed. Forensic medical exams are conducted at the Audrey Hepburn CARE Center in New Orleans. If you are told that your child needs a forensic medical exam, your investigator or advocate will help you schedule an appointment and guide you the process of the forensic medical exam.
Testimonials
CAC Hope House is based on a nationally recognized model of care. The child advocacy center model has been shown to be a more child-friendly, effective community response to reported child abuse. We ask parents and caregivers about their experience at the center on a regular basis.
Jane Smith
Marketing Manager, XYZ Company
Mark Johnson
Founder, ABC Corporation
Emily Brown
HR Director, XYZ Inc.
Michael Johnson
COO, ABC Company
Sarah Thompson
Marketing Director, XYZ Corporation
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about your first visit to Hope House.
Yes. There is no statute of limitations in reporting a sex crime for instance that occurred in a person’s childhood. Reporting it, even years later, is important not only in holding the offender accountable for the offense, but also in protecting others who may have also or could be harmed by this offender. Patterns of abuse in offenders tends to be repetitive, so that there will, without confrontation, a good chance that the same abuse will have happened or will happen to others.
Our forensic interviewers on occasion will respond along with law enforcement and DCFS to after-hours requests for service. This would occur, for example, when there is an urgent need to collect more detailed information at the time of the crime. However, best practices inform that it is better for children and teenagers to have time to rest and restore before participating in a forensic interview. In most situations, therefore, these services are provided through a scheduling procedure with our law enforcement and DCFS partners.
No. However, the CAC staff can be helpful in explaining or helping you navigate the reporting process. For example, we can provide guidance in determining which agency is the appropriate reporting agency in a specific jurisdiction.
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Make a difference in the lives of abused children by donating or volunteering.
