Violence impacts the lives of millions each year. The smallest victims remain the most vulnerable. In 1984, the Center for the Vulnerable Child (CVC) was founded at the Los Angeles County and USC Medical Center (LAC+USC) for the purpose of better serving children and families impacted by child abuse and neglect. The CVC established a prototype Child Advocacy Center with a multidisciplinary team for the evaluation, treatment and investigation of child abuse and neglect. Today the CVC remains the largest child abuse center in California.

In 1995, services were expanded to include additional comprehensive medical and mental health services for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and elder or dependent adult abuse. This new program was named the Violence Intevention Program and provides medical, forensic, mental health, social and legal services for all victims of violence, regardless of gender or age. Although children continue to be the focus, this expansion to include all victims of interpersonal and family violence moved the Child Advocacy Center into a new phase by creating the first Family Advocacy Center.

The Violence Intervention Program treats the effects of all types of abuse while also emphasizing community-based prevention to end the cycle of family violence. To fulfill its mission of “intervening to protect and treat all victims of violence” the program continues to rely on private funds to support direct services such as housing, transportation, English as a Second Language classes, mentoring and tutoring. The VIP assists over 5,000 families a year and seeks to expand services aimed at children in the foster care system and ensuring their safe return to their own neighborhoods and schools.