About the Children’s Advocacy Center
Celebrating 30 years of hope and healing in Bastrop, Lee and Fayette Counties.
The Children’s Advocacy Center, Serving Bastrop, Lee and Fayette Counties is a safe, child-friendly organization where child abuse victims can receive comprehensive services, including forensic interviews, medical exams, therapeutic counseling, and victim advocacy services. The goal of our CAC is to minimize the trauma experienced by the victims we serve by providing them with a supportive environment and ensuring that all their needs are met in a coordinated and efficient manner.
The CAC is staffed by multidisciplinary teams of professionals, including law enforcement officers, child protection workers, medical personnel, mental health professionals, and family advocates. These professionals work together to ensure that child abuse cases are investigated thoroughly, and that victims and their families receive the services and support they need to heal and recover.
In addition to providing direct services to child abuse victims, the Children’s Advocacy Center also plays a critical role in preventing child abuse by providing community education and outreach programs. We also work to promote collaboration among professionals and organizations involved in the response to child abuse, including law enforcement agencies, child protective services, and the legal system.
First Impressions
When children come to the Children’s Advocacy Center, they may be afraid or anxious about the experience, particularly if they have experienced abuse or trauma. The CAC however is designed to be a child-friendly and welcoming environment that helps to put children at ease. CAC staff are trained to work with children and to create a safe and supportive atmosphere, which can help to reduce a child's fear and anxiety.
The CAC uses a child-centered approach, which means our services are tailored to meet the needs of each individual child. CAC staff are trained to communicate with children in a way that is age-appropriate and non-threatening. They may use games, art, or other activities to help children feel comfortable and to encourage them to express themselves. The goal of the Children’s Advocacy Center is to always ensure that the children and families we serve feel safe and supported throughout the process, and that their needs are met in a caring and compassionate manner.
By coordinating the response of agencies like law enforcement, child protective services, prosecutors’ offices, advocates, mental health and medical professionals, the Children’s Advocacy Center helps to ensure that when a child discloses abuse, they are not re-victimized by the very systems designed to protect them. The CAC helps coordinate care and investigation from first report to conviction and beyond, while keeping the child at the center of everything the team does.
Our Leadership
-
Meagan Webb
Executive Director
-
Nick Henderson
Director of Operations
-
Stacey Helm
Clinical Director
-
Jennifer Murphy
Program Director
-
Cynthia Eck
Director of Development
Our Board of Directors
-
Pam Machac
Board President
The Nitsche Group
-
Val Butcher
Board Vice President
Community Member
-
Lisa Schultz
Board Secretary
Community Member
-
Eric Farley
Board Treasurer/Past President
A+ Federal Credit Union
-
Princess Cook
MDT Partner
DFPS - Child Protective Investigations
-
JoAmber Sifuentes
Board Member
Bastrop County Development Office
-
Tanya Coleman
Board Member
Bastrop Independent School District
-
Cherie Wilkinson
Board Member
Community Member
-
Kathy Weishuhn
Board Member
Community Member
-
Lynn Shirk
Board Member
JTL Appraisals
-
Chandra Williams
Board Member
Community Member
-
Cheri Dennis
Board Member
Community Member
