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
Brenda Brown
Office Manager
brenda@childadvocacycenter.org
Jessica Clayton
Child Advocate
jessica@childadvocacycenter.org
Judy Cline
Executive Assistant
judy@childadvocacycenter.org
Kim Grimm
Program Manager
kim@childadvocacycenter.org
Amy Hathcock
Case Manager
amy@childadvocacycenter.org
Shawna Hawkins
Medical Assistant/Child Advocate
shawna@childadvocacycenter.org
Katie Klocksiem
Forensic Interviewer
katie@childadvocacycenter.org
Micki Lane
Program Manager
micki@childadvocacycenter.org
Linda Regan
Development Director
linda@childadvocacycenter.org
Angie Routh
Administrative Assistant
angie@childadvocacycenter.org
Kim Stewart
Forensic Interviewer
kims@childadvocacycenter.org
Cindy Tull
Medical Provider
cindy@childadvocacycenter.org
Ashley Weaver
Forensic Interviewer
ashley@childadvocacycenter.org
Amy Weber
Child Advocate
amyw@childadvocacycenter.org
Board of Directors 2011
-
President
John Ferguson, MD, Springfield Neurological Institute -
Vice-President
Kathy Griesemer, Springfield Underground -
Treasurer
John McKaig, SRC Holdings -
Secretary
Marcia Johnson, Community Volunteer
- James Arnott, Greene County Sheriff
- Dot Atkinson, Community Volunteer
- Jonathan Baltzell, Jack Henry & Associates
- 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
- Leon Gregston, Retired Physician
- Michael Kobriger, Bank of America
- Julie Leeth, Community Foundation of the Ozarks
- Skip Motsenbocker, Signalpoint
- Seth Murray, Penney Murray Ameriprise Financial Services
- Jean Nyberg, BKD
- Bonnie Shackter, Community Volunteer
- Dennis Sheppard, SRC Holdings
- Cindy Wyrsch, Community Volunteer
Young Advocates Council
Council Leader
- Winter Skelton, Community Foundation of the Ozarks
- Tony Hopkins, Springfield Builders, Inc.
- Mark Rushton, Watts Radiant
- Lauren Sawyer, Counseling Solutions of the Ozarks
- Andy Scholz, Pratt, Fossard & Jenson
- Laine Scholz, Garbos Pizzeria
- John Schulte, John Q. Hammons Hotels
- Stephanie Shadwick, Butler, Rosenbury & Partners
- Jamie Thomas, Parkview High School
- Jessica Tindall, Commerce Bank
- Travis Tindall, nForm Architecture
Mission
To provide a child-friendly environment that reduces stress on children who may have been victims of abuse.
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