Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan is establishing a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) and Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). The new programs use a coordinated community response to ensure the safety and needs of sexual assault survivors are prioritized. Pictured are WRCNM staff members (from left) Pam Luce, SART Coordinator; Chris Krajewski, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Program Director; Kristian Coronado, CAC Forensic Coordinator; Gail Kloss, Executive Director; and Angie Linsenman, Counseling and Advocacy Program Director.

Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan (WRCNM) is expanding with two programs that use a coordinated community response to ensure the support of survivors of sexual assault, child sexual assault and child abuse. The Children’s Advocacy Center and Sexual Assault Response Team will complement programs and services WRCNM has developed and implemented over their 40 year history.

“Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan serves a vital and important role in responding to and serving the needs of survivors in our local communities,” said Angie Linsenman, WRCNM Counseling and Advocacy Program Director. “The Children’s Advocacy Center and Sexual Assault Response Team will further support survivors by working collaboratively with community partners to reduce trauma and prioritize safety and other needs.” Linsenman said the two programs will bring a new and positive energy to local communities.

How Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) work
When law enforcement or child protective services learn information about possible child abuse, neglect or sexual assault, the child is brought to the CAC by a caregiver, guardian or other safe adult. In the Center’s safe, neutral, child-focused environment, the child tells their story once to a trained forensic interviewer who is knowledgeable about working with children of all ages and who uses techniques and language children can easily understand.

“The other unique aspect of CACs is the team approach and collaboration of community partners to make sure the child and family get the best support possible,” said Kristian Coronado who is the Forensic Coordinator at the WRCNM’s Children’s Advocacy Center. “Team members such as WRCNM Counselor/Advocates, child protective services, law enforcement, prosecutors, mental health providers and the medical community work together to make decisions about how to best help the child and family.”

CACs are becoming the model, nationwide, for promoting and delivering excellence in child abuse/child sexual assault response and prevention, according to Linsenman and Coronado. Referrals to the CAC are accepted by law enforcement and child protective services.

How Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART) work
The goal of a SART is to reduce further trauma for sexual assault survivors by providing a coordinated response of community services providers.  Many areas of a survivor’s life can be impacted by sexual violence.  SARTs help survivors through the maze of available community services and use the experiences of survivors to improve those services.

The SART is a community-based team composed of professionals who offer a range of services for victims, including WRCNM Counselor/Advocates, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) and other medical staff, law enforcement, prosecutors and crime victim advocates with local prosecutors’ offices.

“By working together, these community partners can provide a supportive, streamlined response to help survivors navigate community systems and heal from the trauma they experienced,” said Pam Luce, SART Coordinator at the Women’s Resource Center.

Luce said the WRCNM’s addition of the SART program will continue to enhance the community’s response using a healing and trauma-informed approach that prioritizes survivor safety and offender accountability that will result in more positive outcomes for survivors.

The new programs support many of WRCNM’s core principles, such as providing quality programs and services; advocating for those in need; leadership in the community; being a strong voice for women, children and families; and a commitment to equality, justice and the well-being of women.

WRCNM provides services in Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet and Otsego counties. The WRCNM’s 24-hour help and information line is (231) 347-0082 or (800) 275-1995.