The Northeast Nebraska Child Advocacy Center (NENCAC) provides hope and healing to victims of child abuse. Utilizing a joint investigative team approach, the Child Advocacy Center is a facility-based community partnership dedicated to pursuing the truth in child abuse investigations.

Professionals from child protective services, law enforcement, prosecution, victim advocacy agencies and medical and mental health communities work as a team to investigate and intervene in cases of suspected child abuse. Attention to the needs and abilities of children is the hallmark of our Center.

The Northeast Nebraska Child Advocacy Center is accredited by the National Children's Alliance.

View Collin Raye's music video "11th Commandment" and hear him speak about children in need of hope and healing from sexual abuse. Click a connection option to play: Media Player Dial-up (56Kbps, 1.8MB) Media Player DSL/Cable (250Kbps, 13.1MB

Here's How We Help
We provide services such as:

• A Child-friendly Environment
  The reception area, interviewing and medical exam rooms are designed with children in mind.
• Forensic Interviews with Child Interview Specialists
  Interviewers are specially trained members of a multi-agency interview team.
  
• Interview Observation by Law Enforcement and/or Social Services
  Repetitive interviews are prevented to reduce the child’s trauma.
  
• Medical Exams
  Physical and sexual abuse exams are conducted by physicians and nurses specially trained in adult and child abuse assessments and in conjunction with an overall wellness exam.
  
• Mental Health
  Referrals for appropriate therapy, support groups and other resources are made. Follow-up contact is provided to ensure that the victim’s family’s needs are being met.
  
• Community Education
  raining for law enforcement and the general population as well as for medical, educational, childcare and mental health professionals is offered in collaboration with other agencies. Tours of the Center are available on request.
• Hair Testing (drug exposure)
  This is a non-invasive method of drug testing in which a small sample of a child's hair is collected and analyzed for exposure to drugs. Children exposed to illegal substances are often exposed to violence, neglect, sexual abuse, physical abuse, criminals, and criminal activity. It is designed to aid law enforcement and child protection workers in their investigative process, and is a protective tool for children at risk in abuse environments.
• Family Advocacy
  Our Family Advocate works with the children and families seen at the Center to ensure they have the necessary resources and services to improve their lives including follow-up contact to ensure their needs are being met. The advocate can assist with referrals for appropriate therapy, support groups, and other community resources.

•  Fondling
•  Exposing the genitals of a child
•  Exposing oneself before a child
•  Sexual harassment
•  Forcing, permitting or encouraging a child to watch sexual activities
•  Oral genital contact
•  Actual penetration of the child's vagina or anus

The sexual contact is intentional, not accidental. Sexual abuse includes, but is not limited to, rape, sodomy, incest, and sexual penetration with a foreign object.

•  Write down everything you see and everything the child says to you.
•  Tell the child he/she did the right thing by telling and should not feel guilty or ashamed for telling.
•  Reassure the child by telling him/her it was not their fault.
•  Tell the child you are sorry it happened and you believe him/her.
•  Report the abuse to the proper authorities immediately.

Reporting Abuse
Every state has a mandatory child abuse reporting law. Nebraska Revised Statute 28-711 requires any physician, medical institution, nurse, school employee, social worker, or other person who has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect or observes such child being subjected to conditions or circumstances which reasonably would result in abuse or neglect to report their concerns to the proper law enforcement agency or to the Department of Health and Human Services. Failure to report is a criminal violation.

If the risk is immediate, call local law enforcement. To report a case of child abuse or neglect to Health and Human Services please call the 24-hour Hotline at 1-800-652-1999. Reports are prioritized based on the degree of risk to the child and will be assigned to an initial assessment worker for follow-up.

Most Children Never Tell
It is important to understand that most children never tell about the abuse right away, if at all. It is not uncommon for adults to finally disclose abuse they suffered as a child. The most common reasons given for not telling are:

•  Shame and self blame
•  Fear of safety
•  Fear of not being believed
•  Loyalty to the perpetrator
•  Instruction to secrecy
•  Impact on the family

It is also important to remember that disclosure is a process, not an event. When children begin to tell about the abuse, they frequently only tell little bits and pieces at a time. It is rare for children to tell all of the information related to the abuse when they first disclose.