Services

The BRACAC’s Child Advocates coordinate and provide services and support to children and families at the Center and until the child’s case is resolved by the assigned MDT, prosecution efforts or both. Advocates help connect children and families with other resources in the community and provide information and assistance with Victim Compensation benefits, court preparation and support and more.

The BRACAC is equipped with three interview rooms that are designed to make children feel comfortable to talk about what has happened to them. The Center’s Forensic Interviewers are trained through nationally recognized programs on forensic interviewing of children and work closely with investigative professionals to conduct interviews at each child’s developmental ability and to minimize multiple interviews and additional trauma. Forensic interviews are provided for children when sexual abuse and/or exploitation is disclosed or suspected. Interviews may also be provided for children who have experienced severe physical abuse and/or been a witness to abuse or other violence. Forensic interviews completed at BRACAC are stored using the VidaNyx Digital Evidence Storage System. VidaNyx digital storage is better organized, more accessible, and more secure than traditional disc storage. It was designed specifically for child advocacy centers in collaboration with the National Children’s Alliance and an advisory council of expert attorneys, forensic interviewers, prosecutors, therapists, and Child Advocacy Centers (CAC) across the U.S. It is HIPPA compliant. Funding to support the use of VidaNyx is made possible by a grant from the Kentucky Bar Foundation. 

The BRACAC’s medical unit includes a child-friendly examination room and small laboratory. Physicians with specialized training and experience in pediatric medicine and the diagnosis and treatment of sexual abuse conduct child-sensitive, noninvasive medical examinations to ensure a child is healthy and without injury. It is the unit’s ultimate goal to minimize any additional trauma to a child by reducing unnecessary and repeat examinations. The examination also collects and documents forensic evidence, if present. While physicians who are specially trained in the medical diagnosis and treatment of child sexual abuse recommend alleged child victims receive a medical examination at the earliest opportunity, most examinations are not “acute” situations and can be scheduled during the Center’s regular clinic days.
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Physicians
The Center’s Medical Unit is staffed by pediatricians and family physicians who have received special training on the medical evaluation and treatment of child sexual abuse. They provide quality, on-site medical examinations for children at the Center regardless of an ability to pay. Because the Center’s physicians provide these examinations at the Center on a volunteer basis, their only contact with the children is through the Center. They do not provide these examinations at their private practice clinics. They also do not maintain records or discuss BRACAC cases through their private practice clinics. While the Center provides specialized comprehensive child sexual abuse medical examinations regardless of an ability to pay, it does attempt to bill Medicaid and private health insurance carriers whenever possible to help support the mission and provision of medical services at the Center. Non-offending parents and/or caregivers are never charged or “billed” for medical services provided by the Center.
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Referrals & Scheduling
The Center works closely with and receives referrals routinely from:
• Physicians and Medical Professionals;
• Law enforcement and Child Protection Workers
• Concerned parents and caregivers.

To schedule an examination for a child, call the Center at (270) 783-4357. The Center is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Medical Examinations are scheduled on a regular and acute basis, as determined appropriate.

‍Physicians and Medical Professionals
Physicians and medical professionals may make a referral directly to the Center; however, the referral to the Center does not meet the requirement for mandated reporting of abuse to the Department for Community Based Services /Health & Family Services Cabinet and local law enforcement. Center staff will gladly provide medical professionals with the necessary contact information and assist them with the reporting process.

Therapeutic treatment of children

Our mission at BRACAC is to provide specialized cutting edge, evidence-based treatment services for the treatment of psychological trauma to each child we serve. We strive to work collaboratively with other child-serving agencies in our community ensuring effective continuity of care. Through our partnership with the University of Kentucky Child and Adolescent Trauma Treatment and Training Institute (CATTTI) we are able to provide comprehensive trauma assessments and access training on new treatment approaches that are recognized by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN).

The therapists on our treatment team provide advocacy for children through testimony in court, participation in Interested Party Reviews, engagement of the child’s care system (DCBS, schools, families, foster families, lawyers, and law enforcement), community education, and participation in local advocacy organizations. We currently provide Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide to Education and Therapy. In the near future we will be adding Parent Child Interactional Therapy.  

Click Here To Download The Referral Form

‍Trauma-Informed Interventions Available

Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

‍TF-CBT is a phase-based trauma-focused intervention appropriate for youth ages 3-18 who are experiencing traumatic-stress related symptoms. TF-CBT uses gradual exposure to distressing thoughts and feelings connected to traumatic events and focuses on building coping skills to manage stressful emotional content, decrease avoidance, address negative alterations in cognition and mood, and reduce levels of arousal and reactivity. The intervention also facilitates the processing of traumatic and negative life events and any related cognitions and emotions. Caregivers are considered an important part of treatment and are included in sessions so that they can help youth to practice acquired skills at home, develop trauma-informed parenting skills, and support the emotional well-being of their child. TF-CBT is supported by a robust empirical base that has demonstrated its ability to decrease traumatic-stress related symptoms in trauma-exposed youth. TF-CBT uses the PRACTICE acronym to outline the components of treatment:

‍Psychoeducation and Parenting Skills
‍Relaxation
‍Affect expression and modulation  
‍Cognitive coping and processing I and II
‍Trauma Narrative
‍In Vivo mastery of trauma reminders
‍Conjoint caregiver-child sessions
‍Enhancing safety and future development
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‍Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education and Therapy (TARGET)

‍TARGET is a phase-based trauma-focused treatment for school-aged youth and families that can be delivered in an individual, family, or group format. TARGET was developed for youth who have experienced complex trauma and is particularly appropriate for youth who struggle with daily stressors and affect regulation. TARGET provides a 7-step sequence of skills—the FREEDOM steps—that are designed to help youth understand and gain greater control of trauma- and stress-related reactions that may be triggered by daily life stressors. The FREEDOM steps were developed around the following components:

‍Focus
‍Recognize triggers
‍Emotion self-check
‍Evaluate thoughts
‍Define goals
‍Options
‍Make a contribution

‍Therapeutic treatment of adults

We are passionate about treating psychological trauma experienced by children. Our treatment team also values preventative efforts to ensure less children experience trauma. Through a collaborative partnership with Western Kentucky University’s social work and psychological sciences departments and The Center for Child Welfare and Research (CCWEAR), we are able to provide evidence-based group trauma treatment for non-offending caregivers who have experienced their own trauma. This unique project seeks to address the broad effects of trauma on an adult’s ability to provide consistency and stability, identify their child’s needs, awareness of safety and “red flag” behaviors from others, and ability to appropriately trust others.  

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‍Interns
‍Our therapy program works closely with Western Kentucky University’s social work program to provide relevant and timely field experience to bachelor- and master-level social work students. This program allows for exposure to empirically supported, measurement-based treatment for trauma; field research; policy; and advocacy. Master-level students gain experience providing psychological treatment to clients under the supervision of our experienced clinicians.  

The BRACAC is committed to supporting the ongoing professional development of its staff and MDT partner professionals on the response, investigation, treatment and prosecution of child sexual abuse and exploitation.  In addition, the BRACAC provides various training opportunities to the general public.
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‍For Adults

The Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children Program (2 hours)
‍Stewards of Children is an evidence-informed training proven effective in educating adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.  It allows participants to hear from abuse survivors and professionals in the field while learning tangible ways to reduce the risk of sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

‍Additional Darkness to Light supplemental trainings, including:

Bystander Intervention (30 minutes)
‍In this training, you will learn how to be an active bystander in child sexual abuse prevention and response.  You will receive examples of boundary violations and inappropriate behaviors and how you can make spontaneous and planned interventions that reinforce boundaries and protect children.

‍Child Abuse and Mandated Reporting (1 Hour)
‍Teaching definitions and indicators of sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect, this training also teaches you about the legal obligations as a mandated reporter defined by our state.

‍Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (1 Hour)
‍Sexual trafficking, also known as the commercial sexual exploitation of children, is any sexual activity involving a child for which something of value is given or promised.  This training teaches you about the root cause of commercial sexual exploitation and why preventing sexual abuse is important to reducing the risk of children being sexually exploited.

‍Healthy Touch for Children (30 minutes)
‍Healthy affection and touch is protective from child sexual abuse especially with parents, caregivers, and family members.  This training teaches you some guidelines for healthy touch and safe, respectful ways to interact with children.

‍Talking with Children about Safety from Sexual Abuse (30 minutes)
‍Talking about personal safety and sex creates a protective bond between parent and child, increases confidence for both, and instills knowledge that makes children and teens much less vulnerable.  Building on the education provided in Stewards of Children, you will learn how to talk with and listen to children about sexual abuse and personal safety.

‍For Kids:

ROAR (30 minutes)
‍ROAR is a child-friendly, evidence based program for kids ages 4-8.  During this lesson, a lion named Rex takes children on a journey to find his ROAR, a simple acronym that teaches children that their bodies are their own and to stand up against abuse.  The lesson materials encourage children to continue the conversation at home with their families.

During legal proceedings, the support that a child receives can have a positive impact during their healing process. BRACAC’s Court Education Coordinator provides support and education to children before and during court testimony in circuit court trials. Children learn about those involved in the legal process through various hands-on activities. BRACAC also has a model courtroom that is used during Court Education sessions. The model courtroom allows children to visualize the courtroom before visiting their local courtroom. During Court Education, children will also learn relaxation techniques and learn about their role as a witness/victim in a trial. Ultimately, this program reduces anxiety in children who may be called to testify in court proceedings.