Children's Network of Stark County: Child Advocacy Center

About Us

Founded in 1987, the Children’s Network of Stark County Child Advocacy Center (The Network) is a community partnership of caring professionals working together in one location. We help children and their families cope with:

  • Exposure to violence
  • Sexual abuse
  • Severe physical abuse
  • Human trafficking

    • We offer comprehesive, coordinated, investigative and professional services. Treatment and aftercare services are also available to children and their non-offending family members.

    Important Facts

  • Over 20,000 children served
  • The first child advocacy center in the state of Ohio
  • Accredited by the National Children’s Alliance

    • What to Expect

    After you arrive at The Network, you will be given a tour of our facility. While your child waits in the lobby, you will meet with members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) that will work with you and your child. Those members typically include:

  • A worker from Children Services
  • A law enforcement officer
  • A child advocate
  • A medical provider
  • A forensic interviewer

    • After meeting the team, you will have an opportunity to meet with a child advocate. Your child will be escorted to a child-friendy interview room, where he or she will talk with a forensic interviewer.

    The Forensic Interview

    The purpose of the forensic interview is to create a comfortable space for a trained interviewer to address abuse allegations in a neutral, fact finding, developmentally appropriate manner. All forensic interviews at the The Network are legally sound, non-duplicative and non-leading.

  • The forensic interviewer conducts each interview using a nationally recognized protocol
  • Your child and the interviewer will be the only people in the room
  • All interviews are video and audio recorded
  • MDT members will observe the interview from another room

    • After the Interview

    After your child’s interview and medical exam, you will meet with one or more of the MDT members to discuss next steps. It is important you follow through with the recommendations, as they will help your child through the healing process.

    Our Mission Statement

    Young child playing with toy blocks..
    "To maintain a community partnership that provides innovative, comprehensive services for abused children and their caregivers through prevention, assessment, intervention, treatment, education, and advocacy."

    Vision Statement

    To promote the overall health, protection and well-being for children in our community.

    Friends of the Network

    Founded in 2004, The Friends of the Children’s Network of Stark County, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3). Its mission is to increase community awareness of the Children’s Network, and to raise funds in support of the Network. Donations made to The Friends of the Children’s Network are tax deductible and 100% of your donation goes directly to benefit their work. Donations may be sent to:

    The Friends of the Children’s Network of Stark County, Inc. 213 Market Avenue N, Suite 200 Canton, Ohio 44702

    Source: National Children's Alliance

    nav-about