In 2022, Children’s Advocacy Centers in South Carolina provided services to 12,897 children. This represents a 16% increase over children served in 2021. To better understand these numbers, it helps to look back several years to when reliable statewide service numbers for Children’s Advocacy Centers became available.

In 2009, South Carolina Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) provided services for 6,386 children and the 12,890 children served in 2022 represent a 102% increase since 2009. Children’s Advocacy Centers are an integral part of the statewide response to child abuse in South Carolina and the SCNCAC Development Plan has helped to ensure that the statewide network of CACs has the capacity to respond to children and families in need with trauma informed and child centered services throughout the state.

Of the 12,897 children helped by South Carolina CACs in 2022, 70% were under 13 years old. Sexual abuse was the most frequent type of abuse reported with 43% of children reporting some form of sexual abuse. Children reporting physical abuse accounted for 27% of children served by CACs.

Statistics continue to indicate that a large percentage of the offenders involved in crimes against children are known to the child or family. Of the cases where children were provided with services at CACs in 2022, only 7% of the offenders were unknown to the child or the child’s family.

CACs in South Carolina also provided 55,810 children and adults with case management, prevention, and other services during 2022.

There are 17 primary CACs in South Carolina, and many are regional CACs that cover multiple counties. There are also 11 satellite CACs operated by regional CACs in the state. Together, these 28 CACs provide an array of child-focused services to children. The South Carolina Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers remains committed to empowering South Carolina communities and Children’s Advocacy Centers to deliver a best practice response to child abuse.