About Us
Mission
BCAC makes a difference
The mission of Brazoria County Alliance for Children is to provide services and meet the needs of abused and neglected children by partnering with law enforcement and other social service providers within Brazoria County.
Brazoria County Alliance for Children is comprised of two program components. The first component deals with a multi-disciplinary approach to assisting children who have been affected by abuse or neglect. The second component, known as our Community Partners program, involves providing needed critical items for children in the Child Protective Services or foster care program.
Services
Forensic Interviews
Through referrals from law enforcement or Child Protective Services, BCAC provides services to victims (ages 0-17) of sexual and serious physical abuse and to their non-offending family members. Trained professionals conduct interviews in an age-appropriate setting with emphasis on the child’s comfort, minimizing the number of interviews conducted and proper evidence collection. During the forensic interview process, the investigative team observes the interview from an adjoining room via a monitor. The recorded media assists law enforcement and the district attorney’s office to pursue filing charges and serves to ensure victim protection. Also served are children who are witnesses to a crime as well as community members who need information or assistance pertaining to child abuse issues.
Multidisciplinary Team Investigation & Case Review Team Meetings
Child abuse is a complex community issue. No single agency, individual or discipline has the necessary knowledge, skills or resources to confront the impact of this painful problem. Brazoria County Alliance for Children collaborates with 23 law enforcement agencies, the District Attorney’s office and Child Protective Services on each case. Every effort is made through BCAC to coordinate and support child abuse investigations. All agencies come together for regularly scheduled meetings to discuss the specifics of each case thereby minimizing additional interviews and avoid re-traumatizing the clients.
Crime Victim’s Assistance
The Crime Victim’s Compensation Program is administered by the Office of the Attorney General and is dedicated to ensuring that crime victims receive all possible assistance. The Crime Victim’s Assistance Coordinator helps victims and their families fill out a crime victim application which is then processed through the Office of the Attorney General. Children who have been abused or neglected, along with their family members, qualify for assistance. Expenses that might be covered by this assistance include therapeutic, medical and relocation expenses.
Case Management
Each year approximately 350 children are interviewed at the Brazoria County Alliance for Children offices. Into these children’s lives come dozens of strangers including police, foster care, therapists, social workers, judges, lawyers and more.
Case managers help watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social services system. They provide support to promote educated decision-making that is in the best interests of the child. Case Managers track the case of each child, documenting all case activities, providing collaborative agencies with information that will benefit the child, and serve as a liaison by contacting the families with case progress or to answer questions.
Medical Exams
When a child makes an outcry of abuse or neglect, they are referred for an on-site medical exam. Exams are conducted by a nurse practitioner and supervising physician through a partnership with the University of Texas Medical Branch/Galveston. On-site sexual and physical assault medical exams alleviate stress experienced by the client by saving them time and providing one centralized location to receive services. In addition, expert testimony and consultation by a pediatric specialist assists in the prosecution of child abuse offenders.
Mental Health/Crisis Transition Services
The lasting effects of childhood sexual abuse are associated with a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety disorders including panic attacks, as well as drug and alcohol problems. Left untreated, abused children can be subjected to a lifetime of battling the effects of their childhood trauma.
Although a child might not be showing signs of having been traumatized by the abuse, the child might be having considerable difficulty in trying to tell what they feel of how they have been affected by what they have experienced. Through therapy, the child can start to express him/herself in a way that is developmentally appropriate for that child.
- Therapeutic services are offered at no charge to the client and family.
- Initial appointments can be made within 2 weeks of the referral.
- BCAC specializes in child abuse issues and family dynamics.
Helping develop healthy relationships
Types of therapy include:
Individual Therapy
Family Therapy
Group Therapy
Play Therapy
Community Partners
The mission of Community Partners of Brazoria County is to assist the Department of Family & Protective Services (DFPS) and Children’s Protective Services (CPS) caseworkers by providing for the emergency tangible needs of children and their families.
Community Partners of Brazoria County was established in 1999 to meet the needs of abused and neglected children receiving services from CPS. This program is volunteer-based and administered by a volunteer council.
Community Partners meets these needs through the following program components:
- Christmas Partners Blessing Children [READ MORE…]
- Children’s Annual Picnic and Christmas Party [READ MORE…]
- Birthday gifts [READ MORE…]
- 4 Rainbow Rooms [READ MORE…]
- Child Victim Advocacy through Brazoria County Alliance for Children [READ MORE…]
2008 Brazoria County Statistics
680 Confirmed victims of child abuse/neglect
4 deaths as a result of child abuse/neglect
523 children were under the legal care of Department of Family & Protective Services
296 Forensic Interviews conducted at Brazoria County Alliance for Children
88 Medical Exams conducted at Brazoria County Alliance for Children
Staff
Brazoria County Alliance for Children (BCAC) employs a staff of experienced professionals dedicated to serving the needs of abused and neglected children and their families. Services include conducting forensic interviews and assessments, medical exams, advocacy, and the provision of victims assistance as well as mental health services.
Board of Directors
Our nonprofit board of directors are responsible for the overall governance of Brazoria County Alliance for Children. Our volunteers bring a diverse background of experiences and skills that they lend to our organization to help improve our programs. They also provide leadership, assist with fundraising and community outreach, identify community resources and help define and oversee the strategic direction of our organization. If you are interested in becoming a board member for BCAC, please contact Lisa Jolly, Executive Director.
ARE YOU READY TO VOLUNTEER?
Volunteering is a great way to support Brazoria County Alliance for Children, but even more importantly, a terrific way to support the children of Brazoria County. Volunteering provides an array of opportunities to make a difference in your community.
Employment Opportunities
Job Posting
Forensic Interviewer/Training Specialist
We are seeking an organized and detail-oriented candidate for a full time Forensic Interviewer/Training Specialist position.
Minimum Qualifications: Four year degree in social work, psychology, sociology or related field.
Brazoria County Alliance for Children seeks a candidate for a Forensic Interviewer/Training Specialist. This is a full-time position which reports to the Executive Director & Sr. Forensic Interviewer.
Job Description: This position is responsible for interviewing child victims of sexual and serious physical abuse brought to the Brazoria County Alliance for Children by law enforcement or child protection investigators. The position provides crisis support and intervention to children interviewed at the center. The Forensic Interviewer is also responsible for case management for child abuse cases. Coordinates team efforts, oversees follow-up contacts with families and case tracking documentation. Develop/design training materials, organize and conduct trainings for professionals and volunteers, present information using a variety of instructional techniques. Identify speakers for training programs and arrange training logistics. Conduct community outreach creating awareness about various training opportunities
Please submit your cover letter, resume and salary requirements to ljolly@cac-bc.org.
Brazoria County Alliance for Children is an equal opportunity employer.
One With Courage Campaign
Children’s Advocacy Centers™ of Texas (CACTX) and 64 affiliate centers announced that they have launched their One With Courage campaign.
One With Courage is a the first public awareness campaign of its kind in the state of Texas, centered around the courage it takes to talk about child sexual abuse—the courage it takes child victims to come forward and talk about their abuse and the courage it takes adults to talk about the issue, learn the signs and report abuse when it is suspected.
This campaign aims to inspire the courage required to take action against child sexual abuse, whether it be starting a dialogue about this issue, equipping adults with the knowledge needed to recognize the signs of abuse, or volunteering at a local children’s advocacy center. The One With Courage campaign aims to educate Texans about the signs of sexual abuse, dispel generally accepted “myths” about this issue and provide communities with specific steps they can take to make a difference in a child’s life.
You can learn more about One With Courage by visiting the website, www.onewithcourage.org.
