Lewis and Clark County Children’s Advocacy Center

Who We Are

Aware’s Lewis and Clark County Children’s Advocacy Center began in 1998 as a group of concerned Helena, Montana residents including professionals from Child Protective Services, law enforcement and prosecution, pediatricians, mental health providers, domestic violence clinicians, a multidisciplinary team coordinator, and child advocates. Since that time, our network of support has grown to include the local FBI and hospitals. We are a team of compassionate professionals who respond to child victims of abuse using forensically sound protocols and procedures to increase prosecution and reduce the traumatization of children.

What we do

The consultations, interviews, and evaluations needed to secure the prosecution of an offender are done in a consolidated, efficient manner. Traditionally, the child is brought from agency to agency and office to office during the course of this process. AWARE’s Lewis and Clark County Children’s Advocacy Center brings those parties to the child. The team is situated in a separate room, avoiding the intimidation of an overwhelming presence. The child is interviewed and evaluated in a comfortable, kid-friendly room by a professional who is skilled with whatever specifics the child brings to each different case. This interview is recorded by a subtly placed camera and fed to the other professionals on the team, thus eliminating the need for a trip to their respective offices throughout the city.

Our National Children’s Alliance affliation

This local children’s advocacy center is a fully accredited member of the National Children’s Alliance; the alliance is a professional membership organization dedicated to helping local communities respond to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient—and put the needs of the child first. It provides training, support, technical assistance and leadership on a national level to local centers and strongly believes that the combined professional wisdom and skill of the multidisciplinary team approach results in a more complete understanding of case issues and the most effective child and family-focused system response possible.

LCCCAC Director
Paula Samms, LCPC
616 Helena Ave., Ste 305
Helena, MT. 59601
Tel: 406-449-3120 Ext. 37
E-mail: helenacac@aware-inc.org

Our Local Partners

Lewis and Clark County
Attorney's Office

Lewis and Clark County
Sheriff's Department

Helena Police Department

Lewis and Clark County
Child and Family Services

Region IV Child and Family Services

The University of Montana’s
Child Welfare Training Partnership

Montana Division of Criminal
Investigation— MCSART Program

Lewis and Clark County
Office of Juvenile Probation

Helena Pediatric Clinic
Partners in Pediatrics