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, Springfield
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
Patricia Webb
Medical Provider
patricia@childadvocacycenter.org
Ashley Weaver
Forensic Interviewer
ashley@childadvocacycenter.org
Amy Weber
Child Advocate
amyw@childadvocacycenter.org
Our Staff, West Plains
Lisa Stahl
Child Advocate/Medical Assistant
lisa@childadvocacycenter.org
Board of Directors 2012
-
President
Kathy Griesemer, Springfield Underground -
Vice-President
Skip Motsenbocker, Signalpoint -
Treasurer
John McKaig, SRC Holdings -
Secretary
Leon Gregston, Retired Physician
- James Arnott, Greene County Sheriff
- Dot Atkinson, Community Volunteer
- Jonathan Baltzell, Jack Henry & Associates
- Andy Bennett, Carnahan Evans Cantwell & Brown
- John Ferguson, Retired Neurosurgeon
- Phil Garrison, Polsinelli Shughart, PC
- Sydney Guilliams, Community Volunteer
- Erin Lurvey, Community Volunteer
- Catherine Moore, Community Volunteer
- Seth Murray, Penney Murray Ameriprise Financial Services
- Jean Nyberg, BKD
- Bonnie Shackter, Community Volunteer
- Dennis Sheppard, SRC Holdings
Young Advocates Council 2012
-
President
Winter Skelton, Community Foundation of the Ozarks -
Vice-President
Stephanie Shadwick, Butler, Rosenbury & Partners -
Administrator
Lauren Sawyer, Counseling Solutions of the Ozarks
- Anna Barbee, Office of US Representative Billy Long
- Colleen Boulware, Commerce Bank
- Jenn Govero, Vesta Precast
- Tony Hopkins, Springfield Builders, Inc.
- Marshall Kinne, Med-Pay, Inc.
- Nicole Ray, BKD, LLP
- Lindsay Reichert, Butler, Rosenbury & Partners
- Mark Rushton, Watts Radiant
- Lauren Sawyer, Sawyer Counseling, LLC
- Andy Scholz, Pratt, Fossard & Jensen, LLC
- Laine Scholz, Garbo’s Pizzeria
- John Schulte, John Q. Hammons Hotels
- Stephanie Shadwick, Butler, Rosenbury & Partners
- Amber Sims, Kosma Mobile Xray
- John Sims, Guaranty Bank
- Crystal Sharp, Commerce Bank
- Winter Skelton, Community Foundation of the Ozarks
- Deena Smulksi, DFG Insurance
- Jamie Thomas, Parkview High School
- Jessie Tindall, Commerce Bank
- Travis Tindall, nForm Architecture
- Joe Williams, Missouri State University
Mission
To provide a child-friendly environment that reduces stress on children who may have been victims of abuse.
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