" A Friend's House" believes the following:  

• Abuse of Children is intolerable
• We are committed to our "Child First Doctrine: The Well Being Of Children Is Our Primary Consideration
• We are neutral Fact-Finders, servicing the Children and the interests of justice
• Children who are suspected victims or witnesses of abuse deserve a safe haven to talk about their experiences

 A Child Advocacy Center, (CAC) is a child-focused, facility-based program where representatives from numerous disciplines meet to discuss and make decisions about investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases.  We also work together as a team to prevent further victimization of children.   

  The most important service that we at " A Friend's House" offer are Forensic interviews. Forensic interviews are conducted in a child friendly environment by professionals trained in a wide spectrum of areas related to childhood development, sexual abuse dynamics, and other pertinent issues pertaining to questioning children regarding allegations of abuse. “ A Friends House” has adopted the “Child First Philosophy” which states that the needs of a child are given the first priority during the forensic interview process.

“ A Friends House” conducts forensic interviews in a manner that is considerate of a child’s culture and ethnicity. The anatomical drawings and dolls utilized by “ A Friend’s House” in the forensic interview are age and culturally appropriate to the child.  The Forensic Interviewer conducts the interview in a manner that is developmentally appropriate for a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional abilities.

Members of the multidisciplinary team observe the forensic interview through closed-circuit television. “ A Friends House” video records every forensic interview and provides a copy to the primary investigator. Following the forensic interview, the multidisciplinary team members participate in a post-interview meeting for the purpose of coordinating the roles that each professional will assume in the investigation and protection of the child. The responsibility of the Forensic Interviewer is one of maintaining his or her objectivity as a neutral fact finder about a child’s experience.

This multidisciplinary team approach brings together under one umbrella all the professionals and agencies needed to offer comprehensive services: law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, mental health and the medical community.  CAC's are the community-based programs designed by professionals and volunteers to meet the unique needs of its community.

We implement policies to ensure that all services will be provided in a home like facility with a focus on minimizing trauma and anxiety for the child victim.    

 We provide services in a professional manner that will support the needs of community agencies, which impacts the accountability of offenders.

We maintain a strong focus on education, to aid in the prevention of physical and sexual abuse.

Our primary focus will be to obtain information which will make a child's first placement the best placement.

Forsyth County C.A.C. is a full member of