FAQ

As always, we are here for you so please reach out if you would like more information!
Chat with us or call our 24-Hour Sexual Assault Hotline at 903-454-9999.

• What is a Children's Advocacy Center?

  Children’s Advocacy Centers (commonly referred to as CACs) provide a safe, supportive, and child-friendly environment where children who have experienced abuse or trauma can receive comprehensive care. CACs bring together professionals from law enforcement, child protective services, medical professionals, and mental health specialists to provide a coordinated response. CACs offer forensic interviews, counseling, and support to help children heal while ensuring their safety and seeking justice.

• What is a Crisis Center?

  Rape Crisis Centers (commonly referred to as crisis centers or RCCs) are organizations that provide confidential support, advocacy, and resources to survivors of sexual assault. RCCs offer crisis intervention, counseling, and assistance navigating the justice system. They also provide education and prevention programs to raise awareness about sexual violence. The goal of an RCC is to empower survivors, promote healing, and ensure access to critical services in a safe and supportive environment.

• What services are available?

  Advocacy

  The time from outcry of abuse until the end of a criminal trial can take months or even years. The Advocacy program provides support and information to victims and their non-offending families involved with our MDT and SART Team. This program provides a continuum of care for clients from the first day they come to The Center until the end of the resulting criminal trial. Advocates work with our MDT and SART to represent the best interest of the client and provide information to clients regarding the status of their case, and make referrals for additional services and resources as appropriate.

  Forensic Interviews

  Hunt County Children’s Advocacy Center employs highly-trained forensic interviewers who interview child victims to gather information about the alleged offense for Law Enforcement, Child Protective Services, and prosecution.

  Coordinated Investigations - MDT/Child Cases

  Our Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) is a group of professionals working together to investigate allegations of child abuse and sexual assault while ensuring that the best interests of the victims are being served. This team approach involves the vital resources of Advocacy Center staff, law enforcement, Child Protective Services, the prosecutors’ offices, and medical and mental health professionals. Each victims’ case is staffed by the MDT. These services are overseen by the Director of Forensic Services.

  Coordinated Investigations-SART/Adult Cases

  Our Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) is a group of professionals working together to investigate allegations of child abuse and sexual assault while ensuring that the best interests of the victims are being served. This team approach involves the vital resources of Advocacy Center staff, law enforcement, the prosecutors’ offices, and medical and mental health professionals. Each case is staffed by the SART.

  Medical

  All sexual assault examinations are conducted by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) who specializes in these type of exams.

  • Both types of exams are available for adult and child victims.

  The two types of exams are:

  1. Non-Acute sexual assault exams are non-invasive sexual assault exams which happen when the assault/abuse happened outside of 120-hour window; these exams are scheduled and take place at the Center.

  2. Acute sexual assault exams are evidence collection exams that take place at a hospital within 120 hours of the assault/abuse. Advocates are available to accompany victims at the hospital throughout the exam process to provide crisis intervention, advocacy and information.

  If you are interested in accompanying victims to the hospital you can find more information about our volunteer program here.

  Therapy

  Child abuse victims, their non-offending family members, and adult sexual assault survivors are invited to enter free counseling and therapy programs conducted by the Center. We offer therapy services for a lifetime as trauma can come up throughout a person’s life even after a person has completed trauma-informed therapy.

  Licensed professional counselors (LPCs), their interns, and contracted practitioners provide individual therapy, play therapy, and pet-assisted therapy to help victims and their families find healing after the abuse. Practitioners utilize techniques in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to assist in restoring the victims lives. Therapeutic services are overseen by the Clinical Director. 

  Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TSY)
  & Somatic Movements

  Our Trauma-Focused Yoga program is a clinical, body-based approach to healing that integrates gentle movement, mindfulness, breathwork, and guided rest practices. Designed to support survivors in regulating their nervous systems and reconnecting with their bodies, this program offers a safe, empowering pathway to address the physical impacts of trauma.

  While rooted in hatha-based principles, individual sessions prioritize interoception, the ability to sense and interpret internal bodily signals, over the external form of poses. Participants are invited to explore movement and stillness in a way that supports personal agency, grounding, and choice.

  This program is available to adolescent and adult clients following a referral from one of our licensed therapists. Participants are asked to complete a consent and waiver form prior to starting.

  Sessions are led by Jewel West, Clinical Yoga Director, or a Trauma-Focused Yoga trained teacher under her direction. Jewel is a certified yoga educator with advanced credentials through Yoga Alliance and has completed extensive training in integrating yoga into trauma treatment, including Trauma-Sensitive Yoga, Trauma-Informed Yoga, the Trauma Conscious Yoga Method, and Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy. She developed the Trauma-Focused Yoga program and curriculum to provide a structured, somatic approach that complements traditional therapeutic services. Her additional training includes prenatal yoga, children's yoga, meditation, and Ayurvedic nutrition.

  Yoga teachers interested in becoming certified to deliver this program should contact Jewel for information on training and supervision.

  For more information or to request a referral, please contact Jewel at Jewel.West@ccnetx.org or call 903-454-9999.

• Does the CAC provide assistance with bills, food stamps, clothes, or legal advice for myself or my child?

  We do not provide these services, but we can provide you with resources to help with these needs and help with the application process.

• How do I know if I have been sexually assaulted?

  Sexual assault is any penetration – be it oral, anal, or vaginal – with a sex organ or any object, by one person, against another without consent. Specifically, The Texas Penal Code states: Sec. 22.011. SEXUAL ASSAULT. (a) A person commits an offense if the person: intentionally or knowingly: (A) causes the penetration of the anus or sexual organ of another person by any means, without that person’s consent; (B) causes the penetration of the mouth of another person by the sexual organ of the actor, without that person’s consent; or (C) causes the sexual organ of another person, without that person’s consent, to contact or penetrate the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the actor. You can call our 24 Hour Sexual Assault Hotline at 903-454-9999 or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE to find out more about the laws in your state.

• How do I know if my child has been sexually abused?

  A child who has been sexually abused may:

  • Have pain, itching, bleeding, or bruises in or around the genital area.

  • Have difficulty walking or sitting, possibly because of genital or anal pain.

  • Demonstrate sexual knowledge, curiosity, or behavior beyond their age (obsessive curiosity about sexual matters, for example, or seductive behavior toward peers or adults).

  • Be secretive or want to be alone much of the time.

  
  Keep in mind, though, that most children who are sexually abused have no physical findings or complaints whatsoever.

• Can I have someone talk to my child or myself to find out if they have been sexually abused/sexually assaulted?

  We offer forensic interviews, but these must be requested by an investigative agency. If you suspect your child has been sexually assaulted you must report the abuse these agencies:

  1. The law enforcement agency that covers the area where the abuse took place.

  2. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400 or make a report online at txabusehotline.org.

• Are you affiliated with CPS/CASA?

  While we work with both CPS and CASA as part of our Multidisciplinary Team, we are not affiliated with these organizations. Our Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) is a group of professionals working together to investigate allegations of child abuse and sexual assault while ensuring that the best interests of the victims are being served.

• Will I get to know what my child said in the forensic interview?

  The forensic interviewer cannot discuss the interview with anyone outside of the multidisciplinary team, but the law enforcement officer and/or CPS Investigator assigned to your case may share details with you that are important to your child’s safety.

• Will I have to talk to law enforcement?

  Adults only have to speak with law enforcement if they report the sexual assault.

• What if I don’t want to report the assault to police?

  You are not required to file a police report to receive services from us. This is 100% your choice if you are an adult.

• Do you charge for services?

  All services provided at the Center are free of charge.

• What is a mandated reporter?

  By law, anyone who SUSPECTS child abuse is obligated to report.

• What is CVC? How do I apply?

  CVC stands for Crimes Victims' Compensation. The Crime Victims' Compensation program is available to assist victims of violent crime with expenses associated with the crime. In order to receive financial assistance from the fund, victims must complete an application for benefits. Our advocates can help guide you through the application process. CVC assistance does require victims/survivors to report and cooperate with law enforcement investigations.

• What kind of therapy do you offer? Who all can attend?

  Child abuse victims, their non-offending family members, and adult sexual assault survivors are invited to enter free counseling and therapy programs conducted by the Center. We offer therapy services for a lifetime as trauma can come up throughout a person’s life even after a person has completed trauma-informed therapy.

  Licensed professional counselors (LPCs), their interns, and contracted practitioners provide individual therapy, play therapy, and pet-assisted therapy to help victims and their families find healing after the abuse. Practitioners utilize techniques in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to assist in restoring the victims lives. Therapeutic services are overseen by the Clinical Director. 

• I filed a police report but I can't seem to reach my investigator. What do I do?

  You can speak to your advocate at the Center and they can make those connections for you or answer any information regarding case updates.

• When does the District Attorney's office get involved?

  When law enforcement has completed their investigation, they will submit the case to the District Attorney’s office. The District Attorney’s office will have someone follow up with you regarding court or additional information needed.

• What is a SANE exam?

  A SANE exam is a medical/forensic exam conducted by a specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE).

  There are two types of exams:

  1. Non-Acute sexual assault exams are non-invasive sexual assault exams which happen when the assault/abuse happened outside of 120-hour window; these exams are scheduled and take place at the Center.

  2. Acute sexual assault exams are evidence collection exams that take place at a hospital within 120 hours of the assault/abuse. During this type of exam, the SANE may ask to take your clothing for evidence, take pictures of any injuries, and gather samples which may contain evidence (oral swabs, collection of any debris such as dirt, leaves, or fibers, fingernail scrapings, vaginal/penile/anal swabs, and other samples). You can decline any portion of the exam you if you choose. An advocate will also be called by the hospital to provide in-person, virtual, or over-the-phone advocacy and emotional support.

• I had a SANE but didn't want to press charges and now I do. What are my options?

  Once a SANE exam is completed as a “non-report”, you will have three years to report. After three years, the kits are destroyed.

• Can I make a report if I am an adult but the sexual abuse happened when I was a child/teen?

  The Statue of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse was changed in 2007. If your assault happened after September 1, 2007 – you can report to law enforcement at any time. If your assault happened prior to September 1, 2007, you can report before your 28th birthday. You can receive services from a Rape Crisis Center at any point, with or without a police report.