The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) of Grafton and Sullivan Counties at CHaD provides a safe place for children and families when there are concerns about child abuse and neglect in their lives.
We nurture children who are victims of abuse. We provide a safe environment for them to make their voices heard as we work to get to the bottom of their case of abuse or neglect.
Based on a national model, the CAC is a program within the Ken & Vickie French Child Advocacy and Protection Program.
What we do
We work with other professionals (child protective services social workers, police investigators, mental health professionals, victim advocates, prosecutors, and medical providers) to help children and their families affected by child abuse.
Our services include:
- Ensuring the safety, health, and well-being of abused and neglected children
- Helping to put children on a path towards healing
- Promoting justice for victims of abuse
- Providing a place where child victims of abuse can talk about their abuse in a safe environment with a child forensic interviewer
- Providing follow-up services in a child-friendly environment
This approach ensures that children receive the services they need and that their needs always come first.
We are also a resource for our entire community. The National Children’s Alliance reports that there is a 40% increase in successful prosecutions of child abuse cases in communities where a Child Advocacy Center is used, By offering services to all children in Grafton and Sullivan counties, we make a difference in our community.
Child abuse affects 1 in 10 children
Child abuse is not something we like to think about, admit is real, or believe to be happening to our own children. The reality is that 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused by their 18th birthday.
The more we learn how to teach our children about body safety, the better prepared we are to fight against child abuse. For more information on recognizing and reporting child abuse visit Know & Tell.
What are child forensic interviewers?
Child forensic interviewers are trained to talk to a child in a child-friendly way to gather information about events the child has experienced. Child forensic interviewers are trained to interview children in ways that are appropriate to their age and that will reduce trauma.
Using a child forensic interviewer means the child shares the information with just one trained person. Before using child forensic interviewers became standard, children were interviewed an average of nine times by nine different people who were not always trained to talk to children about these issues.
Who we help
We provide services to children aged 3 to 18 years who live in Grafton and Sullivan counties and who are reported victims of child abuse or neglect. We also provide services to their non-offending caregivers.
CAC only accepts referrals from law enforcement, child protective services, or the county attorney’s office where they have an investigation pending.
Your visit
Learn more about your visit to the CAC by watching these videos.
CAC locations
Grafton County
Main site
1 Court Street
Suite 390
Lebanon, NH
Satellite sites
Mt. Eustis Commons
262 Cottage Street, Suite 292
Littleton, NH
Whole Village Family Resource Center
258 Highland Street
Plymouth, NH
Sullivan County
The Moody Building
24 Opera House Square, 2nd Floor
Claremont, NH
CAC staff
- Cathy Brittis, MSW
CAC Program Manager/Forensic Interview Specialist - Jody Thompson
Forensic Interview Specialist/Resource Coordinator
Sullivan County Team Leader - Andrea Kegelman
Forensic Interview Specialist/Resource Coordinator
Grafton County Team Leader - Samantha Townsend
CAC Intake Coordinator
Support the CAC
All CAC services are free of charge. The CAC operates solely on grant funding and donations. For information about how you can support the CAC, please contact Polly Antol at polly.antol@hitchcock.org or 603-646-5316.
Donations can be sent to:
Medical & Healthcare Advancement
Attn: Polly Antol/CHaD CAC
One Medical Center Drive (HB 7070)
Lebanon, NH 03756