Child Sexual Assault Prevention

The program provides child abuse services for children and adolescents under 18 years of age, who are suspected victims of sexual assault. The program has two components, investigation and treatment. The investigation component handles cases being investigated by local law enforcement in Los Angeles City/County jurisdictions, including Beverly Hills, Culver City, El Segundo, Santa Monica, Malibu, Marina Del Rey, Mar Vista, Mid-Wilshire, Hawthorne, Hollywood, West Hollywood and West Los Angeles. Geographic restrictions may apply for investigative services but there are no geographic restrictions for treatment services.

Cases are investigated and interviewed by a multidisciplinary team that includes an expert child forensic interviewer, Deputy District Attorney, a law enforcement investigator, a Department of Children's Services worker, and a Child Advocate. A Child Advocate is assigned to each child to provide support and case management services.

Stuart House also provides a court school program for children testifying in criminal court proceedings, court accompaniment, assistance in obtaining victim/witness compensation, and telephonic case consultations. Specially trained physicians and nurse practitioners conduct evidentiary examinations in the Sexual Assault Examination Clinic, when authorized by law enforcement.

Treatment services include individual, family and group therapy; crisis intervention; and consultation to a child's school when appropriate. Child abuse prevention education is available for court-ordered individuals. The program teaches non-offending parents and caregivers how to avoid potentially abusive situations and how to recognize the signs of abuse.

In addition to the treatment services, Stuart House serves as a national training/demonstration site for professionals in effective approaches to treatment, case management, interagency coordination, child advocacy, and prosecution.