A call comes in to the Police Department. A child has been sexually assaulted. The dispatcher sends their officers and then calls the first link in a chain of assistance for this child victim. If the assault is recent (within 72 hours) a multi-disciplinary team leaps into action. For The Child’s trained volunteer, who has been monitoring an emergency pager, answers the call – day or night, 7 days a week. Carrying with them the tools of this trade – information, counseling skills and a bag full of toys and snacks to comfort, entertain and support – they head for the child and the hospital.
The Child Abuse Response Team (CART) provides emotional support and crisis intervention to children when forensic medical exams and law enforcement interviews are necessary. The program utilizes volunteers with professional experience and a minimum of 40 hours of training. Volunteers are supervised by a licensed mental health professional. CART is part of the larger Sexual Assault Response Team, a Long Beach multi-disciplinary collaboration of medical and criminal justice professionals that responds to all sexual assault calls that occur within 72 hours of the crime.
To Volunteer Call (562) 422-8472
