Washtenaw Child Advocacy Center

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Services for Families

Protecting Children, Healing Families

Professionals at the Washtenaw Child Advocacy Center (WCAC) provide a variety of services to the families of Washtenaw County. Although most referrals to the WCAC are made through law enforcement or Child Protective Services, Washtenaw County residents are welcome to contact the WCAC staff if they have questions about child sexual abuse, how to access services, or about the normal judicial and child protection systems responses to child sexual abuse. Callers can remain anonymous. For answers to any questions you may have about child sexual abuse, or if you are seeking counseling for your child, call us at 734.544.2925.

Referrals for forensic interviews must be made through your local police department or through Child Protective Services by calling 855.444.3911. If your family has been referred to the WCAC by law enforcement or Children’s Protective Services, a WCAC staff member will contact you to schedule an appointment and to answer any questions you may have. For information about the forensic interview process, please see Information for Referred Families.

Families that have been referred to the WCAC will receive:

  • A child-friendly, protective environment for the investigation and intervention of all cases of child sexual abuse in Washtenaw County.
  • Coordinated services through a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) consisting of law enforcement, Department of Human Services, Prosecutors Office, Michigan Medicine, Joes SANE Program, and Washtenaw Community Mental Health.
  • A single interview process utilizing forensic interviewing guidelines and a specially trained interviewer.
  • Protection for the abused child from further harm or re-victimization.
  • Medical examinations in appropriate cases
  • Crisis counseling and community-based referrals to the child and the family.
  • Court orientation and accompaniment to all court proceedings.

If you are facing a Mental Health emergency, please contact your local law enforcement agency or the Michigan Medicine’s Psychiatric Emergency Services at 734.936.5900

Other service providers include:

The WCAC is committed to increasing community awareness and involvement in addressing the problem of child sexual abuse. For more information and resources about child sexual abuse, please visit About Child Sexual Abuse.