About Us
History
Prior to 1995, the pain of child abuse didn't end after the physical act. A verbal battery would follow as young victims were subjected to numerous interviews with social, legal and law enforcement agencies. The child would be repeatedly asked to share the painful details of the abuse in an effort to learn the facts and circumstances surrounding the situation. 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 battered or sexually abused. These individuals envisioned a place where hurting children would have a safe, easy place to talk about difficult, frightening experiences. Out of this commitment and concern, the Child Advocacy Center was created.
The CAC, located in an inviting, older home on historic Walnut Street, is a place where a coordinated approach is taken in response to allegations of child sexual and physical abuse throughout our 18-county service area. At the CAC, Forensic Interviewers, investigators, law enforcement and medical personnel form a team to make decisions about the investigation, treatment and prosecution of each child abuse case
Our Staff
Barbara Brown
Executive Director
barbara@childadvocacycenter.org
Zach Adams
Assistant Director
zach@childadvocacycenter.org
Brenda Brown
Office Manager
brenda@childadvocacycenter.org
Matt Brown
Forensic Interviewer
matt@childadvocacycenter.org
Kim Grimm
Forensic Interviewer
kim@childadvocacycenter.org
Rachel Happel
Forensic Interviewer
rachel@childadvocacycenter.org
Micki Lane
Children's Services Coordinator
micki@childadvocacycenter.org
Amy Weber
Case Manager
amyw@childadvocacycenter.org
Linda Regan
Development Director
linda@childadvocacycenter.org
Amy Reynolds
Medical Assistant
amy@childadvocacycenter.org
Tara Taylor
Case Manager
tara@childadvocacycenter.org
Cindy Tull
Medical Provider
cindy@childadvocacycenter.org
Janell Wesbrook
Administrative Assistant
janell@childadvocacycenter.org
Board of Directors 2008
President
John Ferguson, MD, Springfield Neurological Institute
Vice-President
Kathy Griesemer, Springfield Underground
Treasurer
John McKaig, SRC Holdings
Secretary
Marcia Johnson, Community Volunteer
- Dot Atkinson, Community Volunteer
- James Arnott, Greene County Sheriff
- Harold Bengsch, Greene County Associate Commissioner
- Andy Bennett, Carnahan Evans Cantwell & Brown
- Cissy Ellis, Community Volunteer
- Janet Ellison, Community Volunteer
- Phil Garrison, Polsinelli Shughart, PC
- Barbara Hover, Greene County Medical Society Alliance
- Julie Leeth, Community Foundation of the Ozarks
- Skip Motsenbocker, Signalpoint
- Peggy Pearl, PhD., Missouri State University
- Mary Pilant, Community Volunteer
- Bonnie Shackter, Community Volunteer
- Dennis Sheppard, SRC Holdings
- Cindy Wyrsch, Community Volunteer
Mission
To provide a child-friendly environment that reduces stress on children who may have been victims of abuse.
