Our History
Children’s Advocacy Center for North Texas opened its doors in 1997 and since then has served more than 20,000 abused children.
It Started With a Need
In 1985, Alabama Congressman Robert E. “Bud” Cramer, Jr. had an idea to change the lives of child abuse victims across the nation.
Cramer’s desire to reduce the number of times a victim had to reshare their story by creating a space where all of that victim’s needs could be met, led to the establishment of over 700 locations across the U.S.
Based on an Idea
The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) model originated with Alabama Congressman Robert E. “Bud” Cramer, Jr.
In 1985, while serving as District Attorney, Cramer reached the conclusion that efforts to investigate and prosecute child abuse were often duplicated and inefficient. In a criminal justice system designed around adults, child victims were re-victimized by the system, having to retell their abuse stories to multiple investigators. Criminal cases were weakened by the lack of coordination between agencies.
Congressman Cramer’s vision to create a child-friendly environment where children could receive all the help they need to heal from abuse led to the creation of more than 700 Children’s Advocacy Centers across the country, including 71 in Texas.
Today, children served by a Children’s Advocacy Center are immediately surrounded by a team of caring professionals in an environment designed with children in mind. Instead of describing their abuse to multiple adults, they speak with a trained forensic interviewer in a comfortable environment, and the interview is recorded to minimize the number of times they must retell the details of their trauma.
Communication across agencies strengthens criminal cases so that perpetrators can be held accountable, keeping our community safe.
How We Made It To Today
Thanks to the help of our partners and our surrounding communities, we’ve served more than 10,000 abused children. We will continue to serve as long as the needs persist and with the care of children in mind.
1995
The Denton County District Attorney’s office establishes the Children’s Advocacy Center of Denton County in collaboration with like-minded, concerned citizens.
1997
Children’s Advocacy Center first opens its doors in Denton County in Lewisville, Texas. Charles Stafford is the founding board chair.
2009
The Advocacy Center opens its flagship office in Denton County on Cain Drive in Lewisville, Texas
2019
The Advocacy Center, in partnership with Serve Denton, expands services to its second location in Denton, Texas.
2020
The Advocacy Center opens its third location in neighboring Wise County, serving the needs of the surrounding communities in North Texas.
If your child made an outcry of abuse, wouldn’t you want the investigation, prosecution, and intervention services to be coordinated by a team in a manner sensitive to your child?
Help us keep growing
Your contributions allow our organization to provide services to our community on a consistent basis in a robust, ever-evolving way. Help us keep the growth going by donating today.