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Empowering students to 
confidently recognize, react 
to, and effectively respond to 
child maltreatment.

Universities often fail to adequately prepare students for the complex realities of child protection. Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) exists as a dynamic academic program that spans various disciplines, empowering students to confidently recognize, react to, and respond effectively to child maltreatment. Since its establishment in 2004, CAST has been successfully implemented in over 90 academic institutions across 30 states.

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Get to Know CAST 

CAST
PORTAL

Current CAST Faculty Login

Click the link below to login to the CAST Portal, where you can access Toolkits for CAST course instruction, assessment, experiential learning and more.

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Seminar Recording

Learn
About CAST

The inaugural 2023 CAST seminar launched toolkits providing CAST educators with a full 8 weeks worth of ready-to-deliver content, real-world experiences, lessons learned in the field, and much more.

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Community
Partners

Collaborate
with CAST

Are you a state agency or community organization dedicated to supporting CAST initiatives in your area? Reach out to us now to embark on a journey of partnership, where together we can strengthen CAST programming in your community.

Connect with us to start building meaningful connections and driving positive change!

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CAST

Prospective Schools

The CAST Portal is a gateway to resources for new and current CAST faculty members to access critical materials to improve and streamline CAST deployment, enhance current course offerings, and assist with the expansion of CAST programming at one's institution.

Contact us today!

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CAST Overview 

Why CAST?

Discover the unique advantages of the CAST curriculum. Whether you're seeking a concise introduction to CAST (see our one-sheet intro), need compelling talking points to engage your administration, or want to spark enthusiasm with our Toolkit 'marketing' document, this section provides the essential resources to understand and promote the unparalleled benefits of CAST in child advocacy education. Dive in and find out why CAST stands out.

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What is CAST?

Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) is an evidence-based academic major, minor or certificate program that focuses on child maltreatment.

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Bridging the Gap

While CAST is offered in over 90 academic programs, many institutions considering implementation of the curriculum still ask, “Why CAST?”

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Bridging the Gap

Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) is currently implemented in over 90 programs, including universities, law schools, medical schools, and seminaries across the United States and internationally. University administrations may wonder if CAST programming will be sought after by students when discussing the implementation of CAST curriculum.

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Key Considerations

As administrators consider budgetary constraints and the implementation costs associated with new curricula, it’s crucial to evaluate how CAST compares. Here are some key points for discussion with your faculty and administrative representatives.

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What are Toolkits?

CAST Toolkits will be launched in Fall of 2023. Each Toolkit will include an 8-week course plan including a class syllabus, complete slide decks, supplemental readings, experiential exercise instructions, assignments and rubrics.

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Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) Postsecondary Training Request

Request form for CAST faculty & admin training or Technical Assistance (TA) from Zero Abuse Project. Training will focus on major CAST instructional considerations and implementation best practices to optimize your CAST program launch and maximize your academic potential.

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Through CAST, students gain hands-on experience, essential skills, and comprehensive knowledge, enabling them to:

CAST Programs

Learn about our reach.

CAST is implemented in over 31 states and growing. Take the next step toward preparing future child protection workers and sign up to become a CAST institution today by contacting [email protected].

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CAST Programs
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resources

CAST Impact, Accolades, and Resources​

Through our Post-Secondary Educational Opportunities for Child Protection Professionals grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), CAST supports the training of future mandated reporters and child protection professionals across the country. Check out our resources, roundtables and reports to see what CAST has been up to.

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Library

CASTing Call

This social media series highlights the important partnerships and shared initiatives between Child Advocacy Studies and other leaders in our field.

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CASTing Call Library

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Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) Coordinators

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Tyler Counsil
Director, Center for Child Advocacy Studies
Victor Vieth
Victor Vieth
Chief Program Officer, Education & Research
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Nicole Davis
CAST Manager

testimonials

What Our Partners Say About CAST

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Dr. Betsy Goulet

Coordinator | UIS Child Advocacy Studies Program
"Hands-On practice, the reality of what to expect in the field combined with all of the modules that we cover, particularly those that improve their understanding of mandated reporting, creates a much more competent Workforce for just about any of the professions that our students might pursue. The content of CAST is really the well-rounded education that our students need to succeed."
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Karla Steckler Tye

Executive Director | Children's Advocacy Centers of Mississippi
"Instead of constantly being reactive, we need to equip professionals to be proactive. Mississippi's institutions of higher learning stepped up to implement Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) within their programs. The courses are interdisciplinary and designed to help students learn to work within a multi-disciplinary team coordination, which is at the heart of the Child Advocacy Center model."
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Martine

Student | Florida Institute of Technology
"When you study child advocacy, you learn a lot not just about the different educational aspects but you learn a lot about the world around you, things that you didn't see before. It impacts the way you see people in general. Not only has it made a personal difference, but now I know it's children I want to work with. Children who don't have all the advantages that I had growing up. CAST is the first step on that track."
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Dr. Travis Conradt

Assistant Professor of Psychology | Florida Institute of Technology
"Students go in with a good understanding of where things stand, who different professionals are, and how to interpret problems they might face on both a global and local level. It puts more meaning behind the connection of courses, leading to a broader collection and purpose. With CAST, students develop strong relationships because of the passionate subject matters they explore. They go through this growth together, becoming their own multi-disciplinary team. Because of the purpose behind earning the certificate, students find it more meaningful, purposeful, and connected."

elevate your cast program with national accreditation

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