Welcome to the
VSS Child Advocacy Center
This national best-practice model allows the center to provide mental health therapy, efficient investigational resources, and victim support services to address the immediate safety and complete well-being of children referred to the center. A specially trained forensic interviewer meets with each child, asking age appropriate, non-leading questions to allow abused children to share their story in a way to withstand court scrutiny, aid in prosecution of abuser, and minimize additional trauma to the victim. Services provided at the center support safe placement of abused children and court preparation assistance for victims. Licensed counselors provide abused children and non-offending family members individual and family counseling/therapy.
The VSS Child Advocacy Center responds to the overwhelming needs of abused children with community partners: New Mexico State Police, New Mexico State Children's Youth & Family Department Protective Services, Los Lunas Police Department, Belen Police Department, Bosque Farms Police Department, Valencia County Sherriff's Department, All Faith's Safehouse, and the 13th Judicial District Attorney's Office. With a caring and trauma-informed focus, the partnership is a high profile, high volume and highly successful example of professional integration and coordination of treatment, intervention, and investigation services.