Providing justice, hope, and healing

From child forensic interviews to therapy and prevention education, our services help protect children and break the cycle of abuse.

 
 

Where we help

Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center serves Grand Traverse County, Antrim County, Benzie County, Kalkaska County, Leelanau County, Wexford County, and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

 

Intervention

We provide a safe space for children to share their stories through child forensic interviews, advocacy, and medical referrals. Our team works with experts to ensure every child feels heard, protected, and supported.

  • What is a child forensic interview?

    A child forensic interview is a safe, recorded conversation where a trained professional talks with a child about their experience. The goal is to give children a comfortable space to share their story in a way that protects them and helps with the investigation.

    Who conducts the interview?

    Child forensic interviews are done by specialists trained to talk with children of all ages. They are neutral, experienced professionals who follow strict guidelines set by the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan. To ensure the highest standards, they receive ongoing training and peer reviews.

    How to prepare your child

    To help your child feel more comfortable, we recommend reading the digital book My Voice Matters: A Safe Place to Tell My Truth by Rylee Tuggle together before their interview. It explains the process in a simple, reassuring way.

  • We’re here for families throughout the entire process, offering guidance, resources, and connections to the right support. From the moment of the forensic interview and beyond, we make sure caregivers have what they need.

    Our team helps by providing:

    • Immediate crisis support to help families navigate the situation.

    • Ongoing case management to keep families informed and connected.

    • Court assistance to guide families through the legal process.

    • Follow-up support to ensure they continue receiving the help they need.

    You’re not alone—we’re here to support you every step of the way.

  • We work with trusted medical professionals to ensure children get the care they need in a safe, child-friendly environment. If there are concerns about physical or sexual abuse, we refer children to specialized medical services at:

    • Munson Medical Center

    • Kalkaska Memorial Health Center

    • C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital – Michigan Medicine

    Exams are conducted by board-certified child abuse pediatricians or Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) who are trained to work with children and provide compassionate, expert care.

 

Therapy

Healing takes time, and no child should go through it alone. Our free, trauma-focused therapy is available to child survivors and their non-offending family members after they’ve participated in a forensic interview at TBCAC.

  • We provide individual and family therapy for children and their non-offending family members who have used our services. Our trained counselors use proven, trauma-informed techniques to help kids and families heal, including:

    • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) – Helps children process their experiences and build healthy coping skills.

    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – Reduces trauma-related stress and helps reframe difficult memories.

    • Play Therapy – A child-friendly approach that allows kids to express emotions and heal through play.

    Our goal is to create a safe, supportive space where children and families can heal and move forward.

 

Prevention

The best way to stop child abuse is to prevent it. Through education, outreach, and advocacy, we empower communities to recognize and respond to abuse—because every child deserves a safe future.

  • We offer free training and educational programs for people of all backgrounds—because keeping kids safe starts with awareness. Our programs give adults powerful ways to protect children, and we provide learning tools for schools and students to help kids understand how to stay safe.

    We offer specialized trainings, including:

    • Talk·Protect·Report™️ – Empowering adults with the knowledge they need to be effective advocates.

    We also present on topics like:

    • Building trauma-informed communities

    • Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

    • Mandated reporting responsibilities

    • Recognizing and managing secondary trauma

    • Strengthening resilience and mindfulness

    Education is a key part of preventing abuse. Join us in creating a safer, more informed community!

  • TBCAC leads the Children’s Trust Michigan Prevention Council for Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties. This council brings together local organizations dedicated to protecting children and strengthening prevention efforts.

    Every three years, the council:

    • Identifies organizations providing prevention education

    • Assesses who is receiving these services and their impact

    • Organizes awareness events for Child Abuse Prevention Month (April)

    By working together, we’re making our community safer and ensuring more children grow up in a protective, supportive environment.

 

Be part of the solution

Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, supportive environment. At Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center, we work every day to protect children, support families, and prevent abuse—but we can’t do it alone.

Your involvement—whether through donations, volunteering, or speaking up when something isn’t right—helps us provide life-changing services and create a safer community.

Together, we can protect children and build a future where every child feels safe, heard, and supported.