The Lake Cumberland Children's Advocacy Center in Jamestown is now nationally accredited.

Pamela Eads, LCSW, Executive Director and Ellen Zornes, President of the Board announced the distinction this week.

The center has completed all requirements for and has been awarded national accreditation status by the National Children's Alliance in Washington, D.C.

The Lake Cumberland Children's Advocacy Center joins only eight other centers in Kentucky for the status of National Accreditation and 450 members across the United States.

Founded in 2001 and located in Jamestown, the LCCAC was a joint effort between former Gov. Paul Patton, former First Lady Judi Patton and Russell county officials and local residents.

LCCAC is one of 15 state appointed centers in Kentucky and serves the Lake Cumberland regional counties of Adair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, McCreary, Pulaski, Russell, Taylor and Wayne. Alleged victims of child sexual abuse under the age of 18 and their families receive services free of charge and confidentially at the center.

Advocacy centers nationwide can be recommended for national accreditation and membership into the National Children's Alliance following an extensive application process and on site review visit to determine compliance with standards set the NCA.

Core component set by NCA include standards that include child friendly facilities for interviewing alleged victims of child sexual abuse and providing appropriate services to children and families; providing coordinated multidisciplinary investigations of reports of abuse and routine interdisciplinary case review.

Other standards reviewed by NCA were: Organizational Capacity; Cultural Competency and Diversity, Forensic Interview capability, Availability of Child Sexual Abuse Medical Examinations; therapeutic intervention/services, victim services and advocacy case review.

Attention to the needs and abilities of children is a hallmark of Children's Advocacy Center Programs and is fundamental to NCA standards.

Recent research has validated long held beliefs that when interactions with child victims of alleged abuse are age appropriate and provided in a supportive manner, children are more likely to provide accurate and truthful information to investigators, clinicians and other professionals, which is clearly in the best interest of everyone involved in and affected by child abuse cases.

NCA is a sub grantor or more than $8 million per year in federal funds from the Department of Justice.  Today, CAC programs, the concept which originated in Huntsville, Alabama are now located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, United States Virgin Islands and Canada.

To learn more about services offered at the Lake Cumberland Children's Advocacy Center contact the staff at 270-343-6922 or toll free at 877-588-4644.

Donations to our nonprofit organization can be made to LCCAC PO Box 4, Jamestown, Kentucky 42629.

The center's staff is also available to provide community awareness presentations and educational information by request. Tours of the center for civic and business organizations can also be arranged by request.