The Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut (CGC) changed the name of their Sexual Abuse Response Team (SART) to the Child Advocacy Center (CAC). The CAC is overseen by CGC’s Director of Victim Services (formerly known as the SART Program Director), Setta Mushegian, MSW.
The CAC is a child-friendly, neutral environment in which youth who have experienced physical abuse, sexual abuse, and/or neglect are interviewed for forensic purposes and are connected with mental health, advocacy, and medical services.
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— an announcement from the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut
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The CAC oversees its Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) which is composed of local law enforcement, the State’s Attorneys Office, medical personnel, Juvenile and Adult Probation, mental health professionals, forensic interviewers, and victim advocates.
The MDT meets regularly to ensure that they are working in concert so that victims receive timely support and perpetrators are held accountable. Last year, CGC’s CAC served 87 children residing in Stamford, Greenwich, and Darien.
“We felt that changing the name was necessary so the community understood that our services are available to victims of sexual abuse, serious physical abuse and neglect, and witnesses to violence and sex trafficking,” explained CGC’s Director of Victim Services, Setta Mushegian, MSW.
“We support all child victims of crime and their families. Our new name will increase the likelihood that child victims of crime and their families will be able to benefit from working with our CAC/MDT.”