"It's Like We Never See the Light at the End of the Tunnel": Law Enforcement Perceptions on Stakeholder Collaboration and Resources at CACs in a Southern State.

Abstract

This qualitative study examined the perceptions of law enforcement officers who work with Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) in Texas, utilizing anonymous phone interviews with 20 participants to better explain their views on resources, funding, training, and stakeholder collaboration with Child Protective Services, the district attorney's office, medical personnel, and CAC staff. Five themes emerged: lack of funding, specialized caseload, high turnover and personnel needs, emotional toll, and communication. These themes are discussed, and recommendations are made for law enforcement administration, CAC practitioners, and CAC stakeholders. Key practitioner recommendations include administration understanding the time and specialization required for child abuse cases, smaller and more frequent trainings provided by the CACs to facilitate improved communication and collegiality between stakeholders, and increased funding for additional personnel and resources to benefit officer emotional wellbeing. Limitations of this study and recommendations for future studies are also discussed.