The Carson City Rural Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) has formed a new partnership with Sierra Healing House, a nonprofit organization dedicated to offering mental health services for children who are victims or witnesses to crimes. The partnership, aimed at addressing the mental health needs of traumatized children, was officially celebrated at a March 13 event held at the CAC’s location at 412 N. Division St.
The CAC, which was established last year by Dave and Jan Marson with support from Carson City Sheriff’s Capt. Craig Lowe, provides crucial services for children affected by domestic violence, abuse, or criminal exposure. The center’s work is centered on offering early intervention to prevent the long-term effects of trauma.
Jan Marson explained the importance of mental health services for children, saying, “If you give some early mental health services, then you’re less likely to have severe post-traumatic stress. We formed another organization for mental health and support services, and we decided to keep them separate because of the legal cases.”
The center, which conducts forensic interviews at the Carson City Sheriff’s Office, aims to assist children in navigating the emotional aftermath of their experiences while ensuring their voices are heard during legal proceedings. These forensic interviews play a key role in the investigation of child abuse cases.
Carson City District Attorney Garrett Pruyt emphasized the importance of the CAC’s work, particularly in ensuring that offenders are held accountable. “Having prosecuted all types of child abuse and child torture cases, there’s a lot of damage done to a child. The ability to conduct forensically sound interviews is critical to the benefit of our kids,” Pruyt said.
Kristin Miller, a child and family advocate at the CAC, works closely with families to help them navigate the criminal justice system. She described her role as one of initial support, ensuring families feel safe and informed when they arrive at the center. “From day one, you’re meeting and greeting them, making them feel safe. You’re ensuring them that just being here is really important, building rapport so they can rely on you if needed,” Miller said.
Since its inception, the CAC has conducted 60 interviews, significantly reducing the wait time for families seeking services. Previously, families in Carson City had to wait up to five weeks for an interview at the Washoe County center, which could impact the accuracy of children’s recollections. With the CAC now handling cases locally, the wait time has been reduced to about a week.
Miller praised the work of the Washoe CAC but noted, “Washoe CAC is doing a wonderful job, but they were inundated. So we just wanted to help.”
Barbie Barrett, a professor and member of Stanford University’s emergency department, shared her insights on the importance of early intervention, particularly for children exposed to trauma. She emphasized that untreated childhood distress often leads to deeper problems later in life, such as incarceration. “What we’re doing here is a microcosm of what happens if we don’t address these issues early,” Barrett explained. “I just don’t want a repeat performance. And the best way to avoid that is to intervene when they’re little.”
Jan Marson also expressed a desire to expand the CAC’s reach by establishing partnerships with nearby counties and continuing to strengthen collaborations with Child Protective Services. One of the center’s key goals is to minimize the number of times a child has to recount their traumatic experience. “You only want those kids to come here and tell their story once,” she said.
As the CAC continues to grow, Marson reflected on the process of organizing the center and building its partnerships. “It’s the people that are doing this work that are really nice and fun. We’ve been blessed,” she said. “I mean, they’re all just awesome humans.”
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