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Child advocacy centers’ multidisciplinary model highlighted as critical to minimizing retraumatization
Summary
A statewide coalition and local child advocacy centers told the council that accredited, multidisciplinary teams reduce retraumatization and produce better outcomes for child victims; panelists urged stable funding to expand accredited teams across rural Montana.
Representatives of the Children’s Alliance of Montana, Yellowstone Valley Child Advocacy Center, Fort Peck Redbird Woman’s Center and the Central Montana Child Advocacy Center told the Criminal Justice Oversight Council on June 27 that the nationally‑accredited multidisciplinary model improves outcomes for child abuse victims and reduces case attrition.
Brenda George of the Children’s Alliance explained the CAC model: a child‑friendly forensic interview room, a trained forensic interviewer, coordinated case review by a multidisciplinary team (law enforcement, CPS, prosecution, medical and mental‑health providers), and ongoing victim advocacy. The panel emphasized that a single recorded forensic interview — observed by the team from a separate room — minimizes the number of times a child must tell their story.
Tricia Loving (Riverstone Health/YV CAC) described the Billings operations: an advocacy room, live observation for detectives and prosecutors, and priority mental‑health referral agreements so children are queued for therapy quickly. Sue Parker (Fort Peck) described tribal CAC services, SANE nurse access, and the 24/7 advocacy rotation across the reservation. Kent Sipe (Central Montana) outlined a locally built center and a rotating coordination model among chiefs; his team reported 42 forensic interviews in 2025 and 13 YTD as of April 28, 2026.
Advocates and prosecutors urged the council to pursue sustainable funding: several CACs currently rely on mixed revenue (grants, VOCA funds, local fundraising) and small community efforts such as bake sales. Public commenters and association representatives asked the council to consider state funding to stabilize centers, especially in rural and tribal communities where access gaps exist.
Council members asked for research on other states’ funding models and for staff to provide cost estimates and potential funding strategies ahead of the legislative session.
