Accreditation
ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
The Cortland County Child Advocacy Center meets accreditation standards set by the National Children’s Alliance/NYS Office of Children and Family Services.
The Cortland County Child Advocacy Center is a National Children’s Alliance (NCA) accredited child advocacy center, and is also recognized as an official NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) child advocacy center. As defined by the NCA, the purpose of children’s advocacy centers is to provide a comprehensive, culturally competent, multidisciplinary team response to allegations of child abuse in a dedicated, child-friendly setting. A child appropriate/child-friendly setting and a multidisciplinary team are essential components for the status of an accredited membership in the National Children’s Alliance as well as with NYS OCFS. The NCA and NYS OCFS provide the Cortland County Child Advocacy Center with program standards for the team response to allegations of child abuse. All ten (10) program standards must be achieved in order to be recognized as an NCA accredited child advocacy center. The same holds true for NYS OCFS regarding achievement of the standards to be given approval as an official Child Advocacy Center, as per Social Services Law section 423-a(1).
These standards include:
1. Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)
2. Cultural Competency and Diversity
3. Forensic interviews
4. Victim Support and Advocacy
5. Medical Evaluation
6. Mental Health
7. Case Review
8. Case Tracking
9. Organizational Capacity
10. Child-Focused Setting
These components are provided by the MDT to promote a sense of safety and consistency to the child and family.
Accredited: 2015
Re-accredited: 2020
