1. The Cape & Islands Child Advocacy Center
Children’s Cove:
The Cape & Islands Child Advocacy Center

2. Children’s Cove Staff Stacy Gallagher-Director
Lenny Fontes-Associate Director
Beth Christensen-Education & Outreach Specialist
Leslie Moreland-Mental Health Coordinator
Holly Brockman-Johnson-Marketing & Development
Nancy Raymond-Administration
Sandy Hebenstreit-Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (PediSANE) Nurse Practitioner

3. Child Advocacy Center (CAC)
Children’s Cove provides a compassionate, efficient, cost-effective infrastructure for child abuse intervention. Children and families journey through a streamlined process, which reduces the chances that the children are re-traumatized and preserve the best evidence for investigators
1 of 11 CAC’s in MA
Barnstable County agency established in 1997/fully accredited CAC out of the National Children’s Alliance in Washington DC
Services include:
Forensic Interview (Extended Forensic Interview)
Medical Exam and Evidence Collection
Trauma Informed Counseling Referrals/Consultation/TIPnet
Family Advocacy
Community/Partner Agency Training and Outreach

4. What do we do?
Assist Law Enforcement & DCF with their investigation (medical referrals from ER and pediatricians)
Organize a multidisciplinary team for every case
Support/advocate for families
Provide forensic medical services (exams, consultation, STI testing)
Provide consultation/training
Mental health referrals and consultation
Follow up and provide community resources for whole family

5. Multidisciplinary Team
Children’s Cove (SAIN)
Law Enforcement (state and local)
Department of Children and Families
Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (PediSANE) Nurse Practitioner
Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office

6. Forensic Interview Room

7. Forensic Medical Exam
On site forensic medical exams provided by certified Pediatric SANE in a child-friendly setting.
Purpose of exam:
Ensure health and safety of child
Collect forensic evidence
Diagnose and treat injuries resulting from the abuse through a non-evasive exam. (“Do No Harm approach”)
Treat STI’s
To photo-document injuries (part of the medical record stored on encrypted site)

8. Medical Suite

9. Child-Friendly Environment

10. Print Ad Campaign

11. Visions, Voices, Healing Documentary

12. Website: www.childrenscove.org
Contacts
Phone:
24 hour on-call
Fax:
Website: