Dickson House earns accreditation from National Children’s Alliance

On Monday, April 29, Pike County District Attorney Raymond J. Tonkin announced that Dickson House Children’s Advocacy Center was awarded accreditation by the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) under the latest national standards of accreditation, achieving the highest level of assured quality of services for children and families experiencing abuse.

According to the county, as the accrediting agency for children’s advocacy centers across the country, NCA follows an extensive application and site review process to accredit centers responding to allegations of child abuse. NCA makes sure the response is effective and efficient, and puts the needs of child abuse victims first.

District Attorney Tonkin conceptualized the idea of a children’s advocacy center in Pike County in 2014. The Pike County Children’s Advocacy Center was awarded “associate” member status in 2018. In 2020, the CAC was formally named Dickson House Children’s Advocacy Center, after local State Trooper Corporal Bryon Dickson.

National Children’s Alliance awards accredited membership based on a CAC’s compliance with the 10 national standards of accreditation to ensure effective, efficient, and consistent delivery of services to child abuse victims. National Children’s Alliance updated these standards in 2023 to reflect the most recent evidence-based practices in the field of child abuse intervention and prevention. According to these standards, accredited members must utilize a functioning and effective multidisciplinary team approach to work collaboratively in child abuse investigation, prosecution, and treatment. National Children’s Alliance also considers standards regarding a center’s cultural competency and diversity, forensic interviews, victim support and advocacy, medical evaluation, therapeutic intervention, and a child-focused setting.

“It’s a very fitting announcement for April, Child Abuse Prevention Month. This accreditation is a commitment to the children of Pike County, by our dedicated team members to provide the best services possible for abused children,” stated Sara Loeb, director of victim services at Dickson House Children’s Advocacy Center.

“Dickson House Children’s Advocacy Center is to be commended for its excellent work serving victims of child abuse,” remarked NCA Chief Executive Teresa Huizar. “As the national association and accrediting body for children’s advocacy centers across the country, our goal is to ensure that every victim of child abuse has access to high quality services that result from professional collaboration.”

For more information, visit nationalchildrensalliance.org.