Child Advocacy Center

The La Pinon Children's Advocacy Center is dedicated to providing forensically sound interviews for children and adolescents when there is suspected abuse and/or neglect, or they are witnesses to a crime. The intent of this service is to produce an interview using researched based methods that is forensically defensible and provide necessary advocacy services.

Our goal is to minimize the traumatic effect on the child of multiple interviews and connect child victims and their non-offending family members to community services, counseling and/or medical services, court follow-up services (VINE/ NMSAVIN), and early intervention services when identified.
The CAC is an active part of the Dona Ana County Multi-Disciplinary Taskforce that is composed of representatives from the District Attorney's Office, local and state Law Enforcement agencies, Child Protective Services, Child Forensic Interviewers, Medical personnel, Mental Health professionals, and Victim Advocate services.

The CAC staffs two forensic interviewers who have been trained in various national models of basic and advanced forensic interviewing, and a case manager who provides follow up services.

The CAC adheres to all National Children's Alliance standards and is in the process of becoming a full member of the Children's Advocacy Centers of New Mexico.