Helping victims become
children again
That's why we are here.
Our primary concern is a child’s safety.
We work together to ensure that children feel safe and comfortable. We strive to reduce trauma and promote healing for children and their families.
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Emma’s House opened for service on September 6, 2006. That first year, we served 17 children. In 2017, 125 kids received services and care at our facility. While that may sound grim given the nature of our work, it speaks to the need and impact of our work in this community. We have established trust and credibility with law enforcement agencies, the hospital emergency Department, and the Child and Family Services office/state hotline. Now all reports of severe physical and sexual child abuse in Ravalli County are referred to Emma's House.
How we help.
Conducting forensic interviews
Our professionally trained forensic interviewers conduct neutral forensic interviews with children in a safe, warm environment and make a child feel as comfortable as possible to determine what may have occurred.
Medical Exams
Our specially trained nursing staff provides gentle and considerate medical exams specific to child abuse allegations.
Crisis Intervention & Counseling
Our team of social workers provides crisis intervention and counseling for children and their families following an incident, for as long as they need.
Victim Advocacy
Our family advocates provide support for victims in the criminal justice system and help their families through the process.
Assistance in Filing Claims
Our family advocates also provide assistance to victims and families with filing claims with Montana Crime Victims.
Community Outreach & Education
We also provide community partners and stakeholders with outreach and education as it relates to the services we provide.
Referrals
We also provide victims and their families with referrals to community support and social services to better help with their continued needs after an incident and beyond.
Emma's House is a Nationally Acrredited CAC.
To understand what a Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) is, you must understand what children face without one. Without a CAC, the child may end up having to tell the worst story of his or her life over and over again, to doctors, cops, lawyers, therapists, investigators, judges, and others. They may have to talk about that traumatic experience in a police station where they think they might be in trouble, or may be asked the wrong questions by a well-meaning teacher or other adult that could hurt the case against the abuser.
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When police or child protective services believe a child is being abused, the child is brought to the CAC—a safe, child-focused environment—by a caregiver or other “safe” adult. At the CAC, the child tells their story once to a trained interviewer who knows the right questions to ask in a way that does not retraumatize the child. Then, a team that includes medical professionals, law enforcement, mental health, prosecution, child protective services, victim advocacy, and other professionals make decisions together about how to help the child based on the interview. CACs offer therapy and medical exams, plus courtroom preparation, victim advocacy, case management, and other services. This is called the multidisciplinary team (MDT) response and is a core part of the work of CACs.
Emma’s House is in a community partnership that works with a local Ravalli County multidisciplinary team of professionals.