Child advocacy centers: providing support to primary care providers.

Child abuse affects the lives of many American children. Child abuse is nothing new; it has existed since the beginning of time. Child abuse is a complex problem with no easy solution. Child advocacy centers (CACs) have developed because of an increased awareness of the problem of child abuse within our society and the recognition of a true need to better respond to the problem. CACs provide communities with a multidisciplinary approach to investigate, manage, treat, and prosecute cases of child abuse. CACs can be an invaluable resource to primary care providers, including pediatric nurse practitioners; services provided and ways to access services will be discussed.