Ohio Network of Children's Advocacy Centers

Ohio Network of Children's Advocacy Centers Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Ohio Network of Children's Advocacy Centers, 196 E State Street, Suite 300, Columbus, OH.

We are the state-wide association for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) in Ohio, with the mission to promote the establishment and success of Multidisciplinary Teams and Children’s Advocacy Centers throughout the state. Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) are child-focused facilities that help abused children heal by coordinating the investigation and treatment of child sexual abuse and providing children and families access to long-term advocacy and healthcare. Ohio’s children’s advocacy centers are a safe place for all children and families in Ohio regardless of race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender identity, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, documented status, or insurance coverage.

“Investigators in June allegedly found 16 children trapped in ‘deplorable conditions’ inside a home in Vinton County.Two...
10/06/2026

“Investigators in June allegedly found 16 children trapped in ‘deplorable conditions’ inside a home in Vinton County.

Two children needed to be airlifted to higher-level trauma centers, and seven others required hospital stays. The children's parents and grandparents − Elizabeth and Gary L. Siders Jr. and Christina Gary L. Siders Sr. − are currently facing charges of child endangerment.

This house-of-horrors case is just one of the tens of thousands of child abuse cases that unfold in Ohio each year.

These victims of child abuse depend on a network of services that help them heal and hold their abusers accountable in court. But funding for these services could soon collapse unless Congress passes the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act.”

Read ONCAC CEO Danielle McCament’s full article in The Columbus Dispatch by clicking the link below.

https://oncac.coalitionmanager.org/resourcemanager/resourcefile/details/1908

Join us Friday, October 9th, from 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM for a training focusing on understanding the nature of problematic ...
10/05/2026

Join us Friday, October 9th, from 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM for a training focusing on understanding the nature of problematic s*xual behaviors (PSB) in youth and children, which is foundational to developing effective forensic interviewing strategies and clinical interventions.

While MDT members are experienced in interviewing child victims and adult perpetrators, established protocols for forensic interviewing of youth and children who demonstrate PSB remain less defined and less practiced. This presentation will address that gap directly.

We are lucky to be joined by Leah Stephens LCSW, LCAS, who has been a diagnostic interviewer at a child abuse clinic in Asheville, NC for over 10 years. She has a master’s degree in social work from Western Carolina University and thrives on teaching others about interviewing children in a competent and developmentally sensitive way.

We will also be joined by the great Geoff Sidoli, LCSW. He is a National Training Fellow who helps CACs around the country with implementing mental health services including ones for children and youth exhibiting problematic s*xual behavior (PSB). Geoff co-developed and trains an enhancement of TF-CBT for PSB for adolescents and children. Geoff is also NCA’s Training and Technical Advisor for PSB and facilitates NCA’s youth with PSB national work group.

Click the link below to register today; you won't want to miss this one!

https://oncac.coalitionmanager.org/eventmanager/TrainingEvent/Details/400

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. An opportunity to raise awareness about the prevalence of domesti...
10/01/2026

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. An opportunity to raise awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence, acknowledge domestic violence survivors, and support victims.

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, one in four women and one in seven men experience severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. Raising awareness about the problem, its warning signs, and resources is an important step to combatting domestic violence.

Click the link below to reach the Ohio Domestic Violence Network website, and see facts and resources regarding domestic violence and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

https://www.odvn.org/resources/

If you or someone you know needs help, call 1 (800) 799-7233, or text “START” to 88788, to reach The National Domestic Violence

CAC Spotlight!!! This month, we're excited to highlight the Children’s Network of Stark County Child Advocacy Center. Th...
09/29/2026

CAC Spotlight!!!

This month, we're excited to highlight the Children’s Network of Stark County Child Advocacy Center. They took part in the Community Freedom Summit at Walsh University, raising awareness about human trafficking. Standing alongside fellow community members, they spread the word and educated their community on the signs of human trafficking and helped empower attendees to create positive change in their community.

A big thank you to Children's Network of Stark County Child Advocacy Center for all of the amazing work that you have been doing!

Join us Monday, October 5th, from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM for a comprehensive training designed to equip you with essential sk...
09/25/2026

Join us Monday, October 5th, from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM for a comprehensive training designed to equip you with essential skills for addressing suspected child abuse cases.

This training will focus on…

- Understanding minimal facts and the roles of Child Protective Services, Law Enforcement, and Prosecution.

- Key concepts in language, child development, and memory.

- Practical guidance on conducting minimal facts interviews with breakout group exercises.

- Report writing and exploring the disclosure process.

- Multidisciplinary approaches and generating investigative hypotheses.

- Emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion in child abuse cases.

- Transitioning to forensic interviews and improving observational skills.

Click the link below to register today!

https://oncac.coalitionmanager.org/eventmanager/trainingevent/details/352

Today, ONCAC CEO Danielle McCament spoke at the Safer Communities Workgroup Press Conference at the Ohio Statehouse. The...
09/23/2026

Today, ONCAC CEO Danielle McCament spoke at the Safer Communities Workgroup Press Conference at the Ohio Statehouse. There, she represented Child Advocacy Centers across the state and highlighted a few recommendations the Safer Communities Workgroup has made to help children and vulnerable adults including…

Digital abuse and AI-generated material legislation, protecting adult and minor victims from AI-generated s*xual abuse material by establishing criminal penalties and civil causes of action, while also holding platforms accountable.

Strangulation-specific training for higher education institutions and annual prevention education for students, since strangulation is a significant predictor of future lethal violence.

A definition for Problematic Sexual Behavior, as many children face criminal consequences instead of treatment since Ohio currently does not define it—even though treatment reduces the likelihood of reoffending to less than 2%.

We sincerely hope that all of these changes are made in Ohio, because as Danielle said, “vulnerability is not limited to any one socioeconomic class or race; it affects people across every community. All Ohioans share a responsibility to do more to protect child victims and vulnerable adults.”

Tomorrow, September 23, organizations from across the country are coming together for a National Day of Action focused o...
09/22/2026

Tomorrow, September 23, organizations from across the country are coming together for a National Day of Action focused on The Crime Victims Stabilization Act (CVFSA) and funding needs for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). The goal is to make sure Senators hear directly from the people who understand the impact of victim services best.

We are encouraging CACs, Chapters, MDT partners, Board members, supporters, and allies to join together and contact Senators Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted, who have not yet signed on as cosponsors of CVFSA. By speaking out on the same day, we can help elevate the importance of stable funding for Children's Advocacy Centers and other victim-serving organizations nationwide.

Click the link below to contact Senator Moreno's office.

https://www.moreno.senate.gov/contact/share-your-opinion/

Click the link below to contact Senator Husted's office.

https://www.husted.senate.gov/contact/contact-jon/

In 2025, Ohio Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) served over 11,800 children in need of protection and support. These numbers...
09/18/2026

In 2025, Ohio Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) served over 11,800 children in need of protection and support. These numbers represent the critical role CACs play in ensuring children’s safety, health, and well‑being in Ohio. Learn more about how you can support the work that Ohio CACs’ are doing by clicking the link below.

https://www.oncac.org/support

ONCAC is hosting a viewing of MAGIC & MONSTERS, available until next Monday, September 21st. All you need to do is sign ...
09/15/2026

ONCAC is hosting a viewing of MAGIC & MONSTERS, available until next Monday, September 21st. All you need to do is sign up using the link below or by scanning the qr code, and you can watch it with your team completely free, courtesy of the ONCAC.

The film uncovers the long-buried story of widespread s*xual abuse at America’s preeminent children’s theater. The film examines the moral obligations of institutions when confronting historical abuse and illuminates a path toward institutional courage, offering hope for all survivors seeking justice and reconciliation.

https://kinema.com/events/MAGIC-and-MONSTERS-zvzv7t

Last Friday we hosted our quarterly Membership Meeting! We were lucky to have great speakers from three amazing organiza...
09/14/2026

Last Friday we hosted our quarterly Membership Meeting! We were lucky to have great speakers from three amazing organizations show up and collaborate with our members.

Lo Houser and Brooke Adkins shared the wonderful work that they are doing in Clark County with Project Jericho, providing visual and performing arts to families across the county.

Doug Stephens, executive director of the Ohio CASA/Gal Association, spoke about how CAC’s across the state can better strengthen their relationship with their local CASA volunteers.

Lastly, Josh Meeks presented on the fantastic work Equality Ohio is doing, leading legislative advocacy efforts to advance lived and legal equality for LGBTQ+ Ohioans.

The meeting also featured a lively discussion on forensic interviewing best practices in Ohio.

Thank you to all who attended and participated, we look forward to seeing you again in December!

Address

196 E State Street, Suite 300
Columbus, OH
43215

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(614) 578-8029

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