JACKSON – Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence (SEMO-NASV) has been awarded reaccreditation by National Children’s Alliance (NCA) following an extensive application and site review process.
As the accrediting agency for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) across the country, National Children’s Alliance awards various levels of accreditation and membership to centers responding to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient and put the needs of child victims of abuse first.
Accreditation is the highest level of membership with National Children’s Alliance and denotes excellence in service provision.
Accredited CACs must undergo a reaccreditation process every five years to ensure that best practices are continually being applied.
With accreditation standards being updated in 2017, reaccreditation this year reflects SEMO-NASV’s commitment to providing evidence-based methods practice.
SEMO-NASV was founded in 1997 and is the only dual Child Advocacy Center and Rape Crisis center in southeast Missouri, providing forensic interviews, exams, advocacy, counseling, and education to child and adult survivors of sexual violence. SEMO-NASV was first accredited by NCA in 2006 and has maintained its accreditation since.
Over the last 25 years, SEMO-NASV has assisted over 12,000 survivors of sexual violence. 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 utilize 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.
“SEMO-NASV is dedicated to providing a professional, compassionate, and timely response to child abuse. We recognize the importance of maintaining Accredited status from National Children’s Alliance. Reaccreditation not only validates our organization’s dedication to proven effective approaches of child abuse intervention but also contributes to consistency across the Children’s Advocacy Center movement as a whole,” said Kendra Eads, Executive Director of SEMO-NASV.
“Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence is to be commended for its continued commitment to effectively serve victims of child abuse. As the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers across the country, our goal is to ensure that every victim of child abuse has access to high quality services that result from professional collaboration. By requiring Accredited Centers to undergo reaccreditation every five years, we ensure that evidence-based practices are being implemented and the highest quality of service is being provided,” remarked Teresa Huizar, Executive Director of National Children’s Alliance. SEMO-NASV offers forensic care, advocacy, and counseling to children and adults throughout nine counties in Southeast Missouri who have experienced sexual violence or child physical abuse.
If you have or are experiencing sexual violence, you can call SEMO-NASV’s 24-hour crisis hotline at (877) 820- 6278. National Children’s Alliance makes one big difference, one child and one voice at a time. As the nonprofit association and accrediting body providing comprehensive care through hundreds of Children’s Advocacy Centers nationwide, they unify and amplify our voices to command better outcomes. With a forward-thinking approach that stays at the forefront of every child’s future, NCA and organizations like SEMO-NASV are the beginning of child abuse’s end. For more information, visit www.nationalchildrensalliance.org.