What We Do
Our Program
To best serve children and families in Monongalia County, the Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center operates these programs:
Children and families have no out-of-pocket expenses for participating in these programs.
The CAC Program provides clinical services for children who have been abused. Services include forensic interviews, individual therapy & intensive therapy groups for abused children and their non-offending family members (child sessions are provided at either the school or our CAC), mental health screenings, psychological evaluations, parent-training, victim support/ advocacy for abused children, crisis intervention, and case management. We provide not only direct services through our CAC Program, but we also coordinate and support a multidisciplinary team of professionals through this program that includes prosecutors, law enforcement officers, child protection workers, medical professionals, mental health professionals, and victim advocates. In the neutral setting of the MCCAC, team members can collaborate on strategies for investigations and plan interventions that put the child first. This innovative, multidisciplinary approach has been shown to improve outcomes for children.
Our CE Program provides community education on child abuse, child abuse prevention techniques, and resources available in our community. The MCCAC also provides training for West Virginia University students on how to evaluate, treat, and support child abuse victims and their families through our internship program.
Our PC Program works with at-risk children Monongalia County Schools have identified who have experienced loss, significant anxiety and depressive symptoms, involvement with the court systems, or other traumatic experiences not covered by other programs. Children in this program receive therapy and family advocacy.
Program Overview:
Substance Use Disorder impacts the entire family system so the DEC program focuses on healing the entire family unit. We provide support for parents, children, grandparents, foster parents, and other family members involved in the child’s life.
Initially we work separately with adults and children. As each family member accomplishes individual treatment goals and begin to heal, ultimately the parties are brought together for family therapy.
Families who are involved in the criminal justice and/or the child welfare system are assigned advocates who attend court hearings and MDT meetings to advocate for the best interests of the children.
Goals of the Program
- Parents will develop recovery and treatment plans and be linked to needed services with the support of DEC Advisors
- Parents take responsibility for their struggles so that children don’t blame themselves
- Parents learn how their struggles have impacted their children
- Parents learn how to meet their children’s emotional needs
- Parents and children learn healthy coping strategies to manage stressors in their lives
- Parents and children learn healthy communication strategies to strengthen their relationship
- Families gain an understanding of addiction as a disease and each family members’ role in recovery
- Re-establish safety and trust in the home
Length of Program
The DEC Program typically lasts six months.
In 2025, we served 968 children and family members impacted by child abuse and/ or trauma at our Center.
These services included:
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- 259 forensic interviews
- 6,362 family advocacy services
- 1,225 intensive therapy sessions
We use assessments to guide treatment decisions and assess progress for our mental health services. Our services have been shown to decrease emotional and behavioral symptoms in children, increase adaptive skills in children, and decrease parental stress.
To report abuse, please call CPS at 1-800-352-6513 or your local law enforcement agency.
Volunteer
Your time is a graciously accepted gift, as well! When you volunteer at MCCAC, you are helping sustain safety for at-risk youth in our community. If you are interested in volunteering with our Center, please contact Taylor Shultz (tshultz@moncocac.org) to hear about current opportunities. Please note: Due to the confidential nature of our services, volunteer opportunities that offer direct interaction with clients are limited. Volunteers who interact with families at the Center must pass a child abuse registry and criminal background check.
If you are a student at a local college or university and would like an internship at our agency, please contact Dr. Capage at lcapage@comcast.net