WRCAC Issue Brief: Moving to Telemental Health in a Child Advocacy Center Environment

This Western Regional Children's Advocacy Center (WRCAC) Issue Brief highlights the significant benefits and considerations for implementing trauma-focused telemental health services within children’s advocacy centers (CACs). It emphasizes how telemental health can extend the reach of CAC programs to families who face challenges in accessing in-office therapy due to distance, transportation, or scheduling conflicts. The brief also addresses workforce issues by enabling access to therapists trained in evidence-based trauma treatments who may not be locally available. Additionally, it underscores the effectiveness of telemental health, which is supported by research and comparable to in-office therapy in terms of acceptance and dropout rates. The brief provides guidance on the necessary equipment for telemental health services and assures that such services meet the National Children’s Alliance standards for accreditation.