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Many people are hurting because of an act of violence committed against them.  Anyone – men, women, and children may be affected by violence.  Our children are subjected to neglect, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Research shows as many as 1 in 4 girls will be victims of sexual abuse by the time they are 18-years-old. For boys, the number is 1 in 6. Often the abuse is a “family secret” passed from one generation to another.

There is hope and restoration at the Advocacy Center.The Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children began in 1976 as the Waco Rape Crisis Center. It has grown into an umbrella agency with three programs, the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC),
The Victims Center, and Prevention and Education – offering many services to the hurting in our community.

Giving Tuesday 2022
Friday, December 2, 2022

Over the past year the Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children has:

89 FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS and 566 FORENSIC INTERVIEWS provided
at the Center of children 17 and under that have made an outcry of abuse, if abuse is
suspected or if the child has witnessed a crime.

53 NON-OFFENDING PARENTS attended Family Forward and Learning initiatives
Following Trauma groups. This number is lower than usual due to COVID-19.

695 RESPONSES TO THE 24/7 CRISIS HOTLINE

210 OF THE 695 crisis hotline calls resulted in Advocates going to Waco hospitals, of
which . . .

159 FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS were performed by a Sexual Assault Forensic
Examiner.

1,134 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY VICTIMS OF CRIME received direct counseling
and advocacy services.

102 PREVENTION RELATED PROGRAMS were presented by Prevention and Education
staff to 646 ATTENDEES.

435 MEDIA POSTS with 94,481 VIEWS/ENGAGEMENTS. Staff began a
podcast, provided both virtual and physical resources for families, provided book and movie
discussion materials around various topics and created videos that have over 1,200 views.
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 Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children work in agreement with public and private agencies to investigate, prosecute, and provide healing services for Victims of Crime in 6 Central Texas Counties. We reduce the re-victimization of the victim, remove barriers to investigation and treatment, and enhance criminal prosecution with our distinctive multidisciplinary and united approach to these complex and severe cases. We are a 501(C)(3) private non-profit umbrella agency that include the following programs: Children's Advocacy Center, Prevention & Education plus Victims Center. 

The CAC provides the following: forensic interviews, multidisciplinary weekly case tracking, forensic medical examinations, case management and counseling.

Our Services Include:

  • A holistic, coordinated response to suspected sexual and physical abuse
  • Videotaped interview – gives the child an opportunity to tell his or her story
  • Medical examination – ensures the physical health of the child
  • Weekly Case Review – partner agencies oversee each case from beginning to end
  • Partner agencies – Law enforcement, Child Protective Services, the District Attorney, the medical community, social workers, and case manager

We believe we all have a role to play in ending sexual violence, and the best way to do that is to stop the violence before it even has a chance to happen. Our Prevention and Education team is doing just that. They are working to change the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that lead to the perpetration of sexual violence by offering weekly groups, presentations and engaging our communities in this prevention work. Primarily working with Kindergarten – 12th grade students, they use interactive, research-based programming to challenge harmful beliefs and promote norms of equity, consent, and safety for all.

Topics covered include:

  • Respect
  • Stereotypes
  • Emotions
  • Leadership
  • Empathy
  • Consent
  • Media Literacy
  • Teen Dating Violence
  • Identity
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Conflict Resolution
  • And more!

The Victims Center responds immediately to survivors of violence. While 70% of those served by the program are affected by sexual assault, the agency works with victims of all crimes. Services provided include a 24-hour Crisis Hotline, sexual assault nurse exams, case management and counseling. Individual, family and group therapy are available. Groups include people who have lost someone to homicide or suicide, women survivors of sexual abuse, teen girls, boys and men.