| 517 Main Street Texarkana, TX. 75501 |
Phone: 903-792-2215 Fax: 903-793-7946 |
General Information
| Executive Director: | Danita Abernathy |
|---|---|
| Mission Statement: | The purpose of the Texarkana Children's Advocacy Center is to provide an environment for the evaluation of child abuse that minimizes further trauma to the child, and optimizes the investigative process. The center is a child friendly, home-like atmosphere that utilizes a multidisciplinary team approach to the investigation of child abuse cases. By establishing clear guidelines for an investigative system designed with the child victim and investigative validity as primary concerns, the community is able to more effectively serve abused children. |
| Operational Since: | Nov, 1996 |
| Annual CAC Budget: | $200,000 - 249,999 |
| Service Area: | Multi-county |
| County(ies) Served: | Bowie, Cass |
| Community Characteristics: | Mixed |
| CAC Model: | Umbrella Agency |
| Case Criteria: |
Sexual and Physical Abuse Sexual Abuse Physical Abuse Child Witness |
| Ages of Children Served: | 0 to 17 |
| Average Number of Children Receiving First Time Core CAC Services Each Month: | 30 |
| Interagency Partners: | Atlanta, TX Police Department Bowie County District Attorney's Office Bowie County Sheriff's Office Cass County District Attorney's Office Cass County Sheriff's Office Christus St. Michael Hospital DeKalb Police Department Hughes Springs Police Department Nash Police Department New Boston Police Department Queen City Police Department Texarkana, TX Police Department Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Wake Village Police Department |
| Interagency Partners Housed On Site: | Yes |
| Core Program Components/Services: |
Cases Reviewed by MDT Forensic Interviews Off Site Mental Health Services On Site Mental Health Services On Site Sexual Assault Exams Volunteer Program |
| Additional Services Provided: |
Assistance With Completion Of CVC Application Court Accompaniment Information Regarding Client's Case, Services Available, Criminal/Civil Justice System Referral for and/or Coordination of Other Social/Family Services Case Management/Tracking Training for Partner Agencies Courtesy Interviews/Services |
| Center Staff Positions and Time Staffed: | Forensic Interviewer (fte) Executive Director (fte) Family Advocate (fte) Therapist (fte) Program Director (fte) Forensic Interviewer (pte) |
| Facility Information: | Square footage: 2,700. The Texarkana Children's Advocacy Center (TCAC) is located in a turn-of-the century home in downtown Texarkana. The TCAC consists of an interview room, an observation room, six offices, conference room, therapist office, forensic exam room, and a child-friendly waiting area. The facility is a neutral, free standing commercially-zoned building. In addition to interviews of child victims and witnesses, the center is also used for multidisciplinary team meetings, therapy site for victims and non-offending care-givers, forensic exams and a place for investigators to meet with non-offending parents. |
| Funding Sources: |
City Government County Government NCA OVAG VOCA Junior League of Texarkana Individual Donors |
