Avera St. Mary’s Central South Dakota Child Assessment Center in Pierre has been awarded re-accreditation by National Children’s Alliance following an extensive application and site review process.
Angela Lisburg, Child Assessment Center Coordinator, says Avera recognizes the importance of maintaining accredited status from National Children’s Alliance. She says re-accreditation not only validates the organization’s dedication to proven effective approaches of child abuse intervention and prevention, but also contributes to consistency across the children’s advocacy center as a whole.
Avera has been providing services to children of alleged abuse and neglect through the Central SD Child Assessment Center since 2006. Covering 24 counties in central South Dakota, it serves approximately 300 children per year providing comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate services to victims of child abuse.
Teresa Huizar, Executive Director of National Children’s Alliance, says Avera St. Mary’s Central SD Child Assessment Center is to be commended for its continued commitment to effectively serve victims of child abuse.
Accredited CACs must undergo a re-accreditation process every five years to ensure that best practices are continually being applied. With accreditation standards being updated in 2023, re-accreditation this year reflects Avera’s commitment to providing evidence-based methods practice.
National Children’s Alliance awards Accredited Membership based on a CAC’s compliance with 10 national standards of accreditation to ensure effective, efficient and consistent delivery of services to child abuse victims. Accredited Members must use a functioning and effective Multidisciplinary Team approach to work collaboratively in child abuse investigation, prosecution and treatment. National Children’s Alliance also considers standards regarding a center’s cultural competency and diversity, forensic interviews, victim support and advocacy, medical evaluation, therapeutic intervention, and child focused setting.
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