McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center Earns Reaccreditation From National Children’s Alliance
National Children’s Alliance recognizes McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center for its ongoing delivery of high quality and effective services to child abuse victims through accreditation.
Syracuse, NY, November 6, 2023 – McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center has been awarded reaccreditation by National Children’s Alliance following an extensive application and site review process. As the accrediting agency for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) across the country, National Children’s Alliance awards various levels of accreditation and membership to centers responding to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient and put the needs of child victims of abuse first. Accreditation is the highest level of membership with the National Children’s Alliance and denotes excellence in service provision.
Accredited CACs must undergo a reaccreditation process every five years to ensure that best practices are continually being applied. With accreditation standards being updated in 2017, reaccreditation this year reflects McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center’s commitment to providing evidence-based methods practice.
Committed to providing essential services to children in need, McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center has been accredited by the National Children’s Alliance since 2013. In addition to being accredited for all standards, McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center is also accredited in three additional standards, those being physical abuse, child abuse prevention, and commercial sexual exploitation of children all new standards in 2023. As an Accredited Member of National Children’s Alliance, McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center provides comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate services to victims of child abuse providing services to over 1500 children in Onondaga County.
National Children’s Alliance awards Accredited Membership based on a CAC’s compliance with 10 national standards of accreditation to ensure effective, efficient, and consistent delivery of services to child abuse victims. Accredited Members must utilize a functioning and effective multidisciplinary team approach to work collaboratively in child abuse investigation, prosecution, and treatment. National Children’s Alliance also considers standards regarding a center’s cultural competency and diversity, forensic interviews, victim support and advocacy, medical evaluation, therapeutic intervention, and child-focused setting.
“As an organization/team of individuals dedicated to responding to child abuse, we recognize the importance of maintaining Accredited status from National Children’s Alliance. Reaccreditation not only validates our organization’s dedication to proven effective approaches of child abuse intervention and prevention but also contributes to consistency across the Children’s Advocacy Center movement as a whole,” said Colleen Merced, Executive Director of McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center.
“McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center is to be commended for its continued commitment to effectively serve victims of child abuse. As the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers across the country, our goal is to ensure that every victim of child abuse has access to high quality services that result from professional collaboration. By requiring Accredited Centers to undergo reaccreditation every five years, we ensure that evidence-based practices are being implemented and the highest quality of service is being provided,” remarked Teresa Huizar, executive director of National Children’s Alliance.
For more information about McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center, visit www.mcmahonryan.org.
McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center’s mission is dedicated to ending child abuse in Onondaga County, through prevention, intervention, and education by facilitating a coordinated multidisciplinary team approach, meeting the needs of children and families. Their vision is a community where all children are free from abuse and exploitation and the community understands the impact of abuse and actively protects our children.
National Children’s Alliance makes one big difference, one child and one voice at a time. As the nonprofit association and accrediting body providing comprehensive care through hundreds of Children’s Advocacy Centers nationwide, we unify and amplify our voices to command better outcomes. With a forward-thinking approach that stays at the forefront of every child’s future, we are the beginning of child abuse’s end. For more information, visit nationalchildrensalliance.org.