Massachusetts Children's Alliance
The Massachusetts Children’s Alliance (MACA) is an accredited state chapter of the National Children’s Alliance Network and membership organizations of the 12 Children’s Advocacy Centers in Massachusetts. MACA promotes the multidisciplinary framework that best serves children who have suffered sexual, physical, or emotional abuse, maltreatment, or neglect. We provide support, assistance, and resources so that Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) can focus on working directly with children.
Child Advocacy Centers
The Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) are child-friendly centers where a multidisciplinary team of professionals offer a coordinated response to allegations of child sexual and physical abuse. CACs offer free services and support which include victim advocacy, medical and mental health services, and community education.
Pediatric SANE Program
It is important that a child who is sexually abused gets medical care. This is to check for any injuries, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), and to assure the child that their body is healthy and normal. Children can have a medical forensic exam and forensic evidence kit done if the assault was within the past 3 days. All hospital emergency departments have a forensic kit designed for children known as the MA Pedi Kit. All steps of the MA Pedi Kit are minimally invasive and should not cause the child any pain or discomfort.
If the assault has occurred within 3 days, it is best if your child does not shower, bathe, or change clothes— even if they have, they can still get care and have a MA PEDI Kit done. If your child has changed clothes, please bring the clothes they were wearing at the time of the assault to the hospital with them.