Accreditations and Awards
2016 Child Advocacy Center (CAC) accreditation
At its core, a Child Advocacy Center is about teamwork – bringing agency professionals involved in a child abuse case together on the front end – and putting the needs of the child victim FIRST.
Being a Child Advocacy Center means that children are seen throughout the child investigative process in one location, child interviews are drastically reduced preventing further re-victimization and trauma, and child abuse professionals collaborate more often resulting in effective, efficient, and child-centered case work.
The CAC model is premised on the benefit of collaboration over a parallel process. As local partner agencies come together to improve their practices through collective effort, CACs within a state or jurisdiction form chapter organizations, which have a larger impact at the state level. Chapters, in turn, come together with the national organization to promote and support change within larger systems.
“We realized that providing all necessary services to child victims of abuse under one roof was essential if we wanted to continue to improve the way we were delivering services.” – Melinda Thompson, MCS Chief Executive Officer
2016 National Children’s Alliance (NCA) accreditation
As an NCA accredited facility, MCS is dedicated to demonstrating adherence to best practices in service provision to child victims and their families.
CACs that have met national accreditation standards are recognized as having achieved a level of multidisciplinary collaboration and coordinated service delivery that significantly improves the experience and well-being of children who are subject to child abuse intervention.
NCA accreditation provides access to information and resources to improve sustainability due to enhanced services, professional trainings, and Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy Center accreditations.
2021 Prevent Child Abuse Florida Pinwheels for Prevention Award
MCS received the Prevent Child Abuse Florida Pinwheels for Prevention Award in May 2021 for our efforts during Child Abuse Prevention Month. Pinwheels for Prevention is a national campaign designed to increase awareness of child abuse prevention efforts each April by promoting and displaying blue pinwheels throughout the lawns of individuals and businesses in the community. This campaign is Florida’s statewide effort to highlight programs and activities that promote healthy child development and prevention of abuse. Coordinated by Prevent Child Abuse (PCA) Florida, the Ounce of Prevention Fund in Florida and the Florida Department of Children and Families creates awareness that child abuse can be prevented. The campaign also showcases pinwheel displays in every corner of our state which serve as reminders of the carefree, fun childhoods we desire for every child in Florida.
2022 Florida National Children’s Advocacy Center (FNCAC) Satellite Member Award
Manatee Children’s Services was awarded Satellite Membership by National Children’s Alliance following an extensive application and review process. The National Children’s Alliance awards various levels of 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. National Children’s Alliance awards Satellite Membership based on a Child Advocacy Center’s compliance with three national standards to ensure effective, efficient, and consistent delivery of services to child abuse victims. Satellite Members must utilize a functioning and effective multidisciplinary team approach to work collaboratively in child abuse investigation, prosecution, and treatment.
