Promoting School Readiness through Developmentally Appropriate Practice. Focusing on high-quality care and learning environments.

The mission of the Child Advocacy Center is to "place the needs of the child first in an investigation for abuse" while working toward our vision to "end the abuse suffered by every child victim who walks through our door." Prior to 1995, the pain of child abuse didn’t end after the physical act. A verbal battery would follow as young victims had to endure numerous interviews with social, legal and law enforcement agencies. A child would be repeatedly asked to share the painful details of the abuse in an effort to learn exactly what happened. While well-intentioned, the exhausting process guaranteed further emotional trauma to the young victim. In 1995, a small group of concerned professionals and community leaders met to consider a better, more sensitive way to respond to children who had been abused. These individuals pictured a place where hurting children would feel safe talking about difficult, frightening experiences. Out of this concern, the Child Advocacy Center was established. I had the privilege to serve for six years as a board member for this incredible organization, including service on several committees such as Finance and Executive and as board chairman for the year 2015. For more information about the Child Advocacy Center and its mission, please visit https://www.childadvocacycenter.org/.