Stakeholder collaboration of a Texas Children’s Advocacy Center: An exploratory analysis of relations between law enforcement, Child Protective Services, and the children’s advocacy center

Abstract

The child advocacy center (CAC) model utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to handle crimes against children cases, with child protective services (CPS) and law enforcement agencies working closely with CACs. Though the CAC model surfaced in the 1980s, the main stakeholders’ collaborations are not well studied. The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the interagency collaboration and frictions between the main stakeholders in the CAC model: law enforcement, CPS, and the CAC using a nodal governance theoretical framework. Employing a qualitative research methods approach, the researchers interviewed 11 respondents about collaborations and frictions between stakeholders in the CAC. The researchers uncovered three themes: friction with law enforcement caseloads and case filings, friction between stakeholders, and training as a possible remedy to these frictions. These themes are detailed and discussed to offer more insight into the daily workings of this model. Despite this collaborative arrangement that collectively, in principle, has the common goal of protecting children, our nodal mapping exercise revealed frictions derived from structural and cultural divergences, such as different missions, priorities, investigative deadlines and time frames. In addition to training, the researchers offer suggestions to minimize these frictions.