Call CVVC's 24-Hour Helpline
for round-the-clock assistance
and information by caring,
knowledgable professionals
who can provide immediate
help and guidance.

As a family you can survive the impacts of trauma by communicating supporting and reassuring the ones you love. No one should go through this alone.

Children need a chance to tell about what happened to them in a safe place and with someone who can let them know their feelings are okay.


CVVC provides a range of services for young people including:
  • Early intervention through home, hospitals, child advocacy centers, courts and schools
  • Assessments of child's needs and clinical services for child victims and witnesses, as needed
  • Group crisis intervention for young people following incidents of violence in schools or in the community
  • In-home family therapy to help family members cope with the impact of trauma and violence
  • Referral information and resources for children impacted by violence and trauma
  • Remembrance Evening group for young people to honor the life of their deceased loved one
CVVC provides the child with a "Victim Advocate" who will help make the criminal and juvenile justice systems more understandable and less stressful for the child and family.
  • Advocates explain the legal process step by step, define confusing legal terms, and help the child understand their role in the process.
  • Advocates also help parents/guardians understand typical trauma responses that their child may be experiencing and ways to help their child cope and heal.

    • Advocates…

    • Assist children and parents/guardians during forensic interviews at child advocacy centers.
    • Accompany and assist the child and family through interviews with police or prosecuting attorneys.
    • Provide age appropriate books, coloring books, brochures, videos and other tools to explain legal system procedures and trauma reactions.
    • Assist children at preliminary hearings (first hearing in a criminal case) held at Pittsburgh Municipal Court and Allegheny County Magisterial District Judge's Offices.
    • Accompany and assist the child and family at trial, sentencing and juvenile justice system adjudication and disposition hearings.
    • Keep the child's family informed of important court dates and case updates.
    • Debrief the child following the court case in order to help the child and family understand the outcome and the importance of the child's role.
    • Provide follow-up to ascertain additional needs following the case conclusion.


Children's Books

  • Protecting the Gift: Keeping Children and Teens Safe, by Gavin DeBecker

  • When Your Child Is Afraid, by Dr. Robert Schachter and Carolee Spearin McCauley

  • A Volcano in My Tummy, Helping Children To Handle Anger, by Elaine Whitehouse and Warwick Pudney

  • Children Changed by Trauma, A Healing Guide, by Debra Whitney Alexander, Ph.D.

  • Bereaved Children and Teens, by Earl A. Grollman

  • Brave Bart, by Caroline H. Sheppard, ACSW

  • When Someone Very Special Dies, by Marge Heegaard

  • When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death, by Laurie Krasny Brown and Mark Brown

  • Goodbye Mousie, by R.H. Harris

  • Sad Isn?t Bad: A Good-Grief Guidebook for Kids Dealing with Loss, by Michaelane Mundy

  • When Someone Very Special Dies, by Marge Heegaard

  • 35 Ways to Help a Grieving Child, by Dougy Center for Grieving Children

  • What on Earth Do You Do When Someone Dies?, by Trevor Romain