In 2018 SCNCAC began working in collaboration with the South Carolina Children’s Justice Act Task Force to develop a statewide child abuse protocol to formalize the use of Children’s Advocacy Centers and Multidisciplinary Teams in the statewide response to child abuse in South Carolina. The shared goal was to deliver a best practice response to child abuse in South Carolina through the implementation of a standardized statewide child abuse response protocol. On May 6, 2021, Governor McMaster signed the SC Child Abuse Response Protocol Act bill into law. Pursuant to the legislation, the SC Department of Children’s Advocacy (SCDCA) is responsible for maintaining the protocol and updates to the protocol.

SCNCAC Minimal Facts Interview Cards

The Protocol will help to ensure that all children in South Carolina have access to an evidence based and best practice response to child abuse to help provide healing and restore hope during the most difficult time in their young lives. This legislation requires that in the investigation of a known or suspected crime against a child, a multidisciplinary team must follow the Protocol as developed by the SC Children’s Justice Act Task Force and the South Carolina Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers. The SCNCAC first responder minimal facts interview cards, which were revised to match information that is in the Protocol, are two sided cards available from SCNCAC or your local CAC.

How the Protocol Was Developed

The SC Children’s Justice Act (CJA) Task Force and the South Carolina Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers (SCNCAC), formed an advisory group to develop the protocol. The Statewide Child Abuse Protocol Advisory Group consisted of professionals from multiple disciplines and agencies involved in the multidisciplinary team response, investigation and prosecution of child abuse, child neglect, and sexual exploitation in South Carolina. Professionals from all of the core MDT functions served on the Advisory Group representing law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, medical, mental health, and victim advocacy, together with local CAC staff. In addition to members from the core MDT functions, the advisory group had representation from the CJA Task Force, SCNCAC, public school systems, Joint Citizens & Legislative Committee, and Guardian Ad Litem programs.

Members of the Advisory Group also met with the South Carolina Office of the Attorney General, statewide law enforcement organizations, South Carolina Department of Social Services, South Carolina Department of Children’s Advocacy, National Children’s Alliance, and other stakeholders to seek input on the protocol. The Advisory Group is thankful for all organizations and representatives who provided content and/or reviewed material for this protocol project.

SC Child Abuse Response Protocol Training – May 2022 Edition

This training is in an on-line, self-paced format consisting of approximately 3.5 hours of instruction which meets the training requirement in the South Carolina Child Abuse Response Protocol Act. This course is open to all professionals involved in the response to child abuse in South Carolina, however, if you are a CAC/MDT member and have login credentials for SCNCAC Connect please be sure to use your membership email so your training records will be attached to your member records. Click on the icon to the left to view the training flyer. Use the buttons below to request training support or to register for the online training.

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