(CASA & Children's Advocacy Center)
| How are the Children? CPS, CASA, CAC, FCCC and FCFCC – who does what? by Sandy Barber Child Protective Services, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Children’s Advocacy Center, Fannin County Children’s Center and Fannin County Family Crisis Center. For short, they are CPS, CASA, CAC, FCCC and FCFCC respectively. One look at all of these names and acronyms, it’s no wonder most people are easily confused about what the difference is. Besides the fact that lots of these words start with the letter “c”, each of these programs and agencies have several things in common. All of these organizations work with people who have suffered abuse. They work together regularly, as they each have a distinct role in the child welfare system. Child Protective Services is a state agency charged with the task of protecting the unprotected. Within CPS, there are workers who investigate reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. Other caseworkers are assigned to the cases where CPS has removed children from their homes due to abuse and neglect. These workers offer counseling, parenting classes, drug treatment or other services to parents so that they can try to be reunited with their children. If that is not possible, they look for extended family members who can raise the children. The last resort would be to find an adoptive home with someone not related to the children. Sometimes the situation may not be bad enough to warrant removing the children from the home, but there are still reasons for concern. In these cases, a CPS caseworker in the Family Based Safety Services unit may be assigned to work with the family while the children stay at home. The goal in these cases is to strengthen the family skills, access community resources and lessen the risk for future abuse or neglect while the children remain in the home. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) got its start in Fannin County almost fifteen years ago. Staff at this non-profit agency recruit community volunteers to be guardian ad litems for children in foster care. These trained volunteers advocate in court and other settings for children to ensure that their physical, education, social and emotional needs are being met. The goal is to find a permanent, safe home for children as quickly as possible. In 1999, CASA staff was at a conference when they heard about a new type of program called a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC). They brought the idea back to the board, and soon efforts were underway to bring a CAC to Fannin County. The CAC model brings together a multi-disciplinary team including law enforcement, CPS, prosecution, medical professionals, counselors, advocates and other professionals to coordinate their efforts at investigating, treating and prosecuting cases involving crimes against children. CAC staff is specially trained in how to interview children when sexual abuse or serious physical abuse is suspected. Counseling, information, referrals, support, court school and court accompaniment are other services the CAC staff provide in coordination with the multi-disciplinary team. After CASA added the CAC, the agency’s legal name was changed to the Fannin County Children’s Center in order to reflect both programs. Across Texas, there are 68 CASA programs and 61 Children’s Advocacy Centers. Fannin County is one of ten places in Texas which operate both a CASA and CAC within one organization. The Children’s Center has further expanded services to children with the addition of the Rainbow Rooms, School Supply Drive, Christmas Drive and child abuse prevention efforts. Fannin County Family Crisis Center is a separate, private, non-profit agency which started about ten years ago. Their focus is working with adults victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. The Crisis Center offers crisis counseling, information, referrals, counseling, and accompaniment to hospitals, police stations, court and other locations for adults. In homes where there is child abuse, there may also be domestic violence and vice versa. It is for this reason staff at CPS, the Children’s Center and the Crisis Center often refer their clients to one another and carefully coordinate their efforts on a case by case basis. To learn more about CPS, check them out on-line at www.dfps.state.tx.us. |
Fannin County Children's Center
112 West Fifth Street Bonham,TX 75418 USA
Phone: 903.583.4339 Fax: 903.583.3074
Email: info@fanninccc.org