"Sometimes, as law enforcement officers, we are blinded by the desire to arrest and prosecute. We lose sight that at the other end of the equation there is a victim that is, most likely, going through the most traumatic experience of their life. Our victims in many cases, are young children that possibly have no understanding of what to expect from us or what we ask of them.
The Yavapai Family Advocacy Center is continually providing our victims and our victims' families with a supportive shoulder and a guiding hand to help them look past what has occurred. They are an invaluable part of my investigations and have always kept me in check of realizing who we truly are working for and what really matters." - Detective
Support Groups Offered
We now offer an English and Spanish domestic violence support group once a week.
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If you're a parent of a child who has been victimized, we will begin a 5-week group. This group provides support, advocacy and education for parents whose children have been victims of physical or sexual abuse.
Parent and Caregiver Information
Information for parents and caregivers about forensic interviews at YFAC.
Why do we need a family advocacy center?
In the past, a child or adult victim of family violence may have to wait hours for medical examination, be interviewed several times by different agency personnel and face a confusing array of stressful procedures and appearances.
Through a county-wide collaboration spearheaded by the Children's Justice Task Force, all 13 law enforcement agencies in Yavapai County, as well as the County Attorney's Office, Victim Services, medical and counseling services are working together to integrate and improve the response to these devastating crimes.
The Yavapai Family Advocacy Center is endorsed by all local and regional governments, law enforcement agencies, social service providers, and medical & mental health professionals.
Our Partners
- Adult Protective Services
- Stepping Stones Agency
- Verde Valley Sanctuary
- Yavapai County Health Department
- Child Protective Services
- Law Enforcement
- Yavapai County Attorney's Office
- Yavapai Regional Medical Center
View our Newsletters and Annual Report online!
2006 Annual Report Click here
July 2007 Newsletter Click here
October 2007 Newsletter Click here
Comprehensive Services
In October of 2000, the Yavapai Family Advocacy Center opened
its doors for the first time. Based on the recommendations of the Yavapai County Children’s
Justice Task Force, the YFAC was designed to create an integrated victim-centered approach
to family violence.
The YFAC has become the "one-stop" shop to serve victims of family violence. The center is an innovative, comprehensive and coordinated approach to reduce victim trauma, integrate investigation and enhance prosecution of domestic violence and child abuse crimes. Since its inception the center has served approximately 1,300 victims.
In 1996 the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office published “Protocols for the Multi-Agency Investigation of Child Abuse”. These protocols called for the notification of the County Attorney’s Office during the initial stages of an investigation. This process is now fully in place. During the initial stages of an investigation, the availability of the County Attorney’s Office is an additional resource that helps to assure coordination and the optimal outcomes for both the victim and the justice system.
The process of multi-agency case reviews has enhanced the communication between child welfare, prosecution and detectives. Most agencies took advantage of the opportunities for advanced forensic interview training during the past year. As a result, the quality of interviews with victims has improved dramatically, thus the quality of cases submitted for prosecution has also been improved. Three years ago in Yavapai County there were two detectives who were forensic interviewers. At the end of 2005, over 100 law enforcement and CPS professionals in Yavapai County have completed the advanced 40-hour class.
The Benefits of our Services
- Streamlines local response to family violence in all its forms
- Decreases victim trauma and intimidation by providing support services in a victim-friendly environment
- Increases cost-effectiveness of local agency resources by providing all core services under one roof
- Reduces fragmentation and duplication of services and improves the coordination of multidisciplinary investigation teams
- Reduces investigation time
- Reduces the number and improves the quality of forensic interviews and medical exams by staffing specialty cross-trained professionals
- Eliminates victim travel time to Phoenix for forensic interviews and medical exams
- Expedites effective prosecution by having improved evidence collection in a timely manner
Yavapai Family Advocacy Center Open Houses
The Yavapai Family Advicacy Center is beginning to host two Center open houses a month. During the open house you will learn what an Advocacy Center does, what it's needed for and ways you can help. You will also be given a tour of the Center.
These open houses are open to anyone from school employees, bank employees or just the general public. They are not open to perpatrators.
If you are interested in attending an open house or having your group attend, please contact Tara at 928.775.0669 or email tara@yfac.org.