When a child in Marion County experiences abuse or neglect, the response they receive in the hours and days that follow can shape the rest of their life. A fragmented, confusing process can compound their trauma. A coordinated, compassionate response can begin their healing.
That is exactly what a Children’s Advocacy Center is designed to provide. Since 1999, Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection has been Marion County’s dedicated Children’s Advocacy Center, serving as the community’s coordinated response to child abuse one child at a time.
What Is a Children’s Advocacy Center?
A Children’s Advocacy Center, or CAC, is a child-friendly facility that brings together all of the professionals involved in a child abuse case under one roof. Rather than requiring a child to navigate multiple agencies, tell their story repeatedly, and travel to different locations for different services, a CAC coordinates everything in one safe, welcoming environment.
The CAC model was developed in the 1980s in response to growing recognition that the traditional, fragmented approach to child abuse investigations was causing additional harm to children. Today, there are more than 900 accredited Children’s Advocacy Centers across the United States, serving millions of children and families each year.
Kimberly’s Center is Marion County’s only accredited CAC, and the only organization in the county providing this coordinated, specialized response to child abuse at no cost to families.
How Does Kimberly’s Center Work?
When a child is referred to Kimberly’s Center by law enforcement or the Department of Children and Families, they enter a process designed around one principle: The child comes first.
Here is how that process works:
Step 1: The Forensic Interview
The forensic interview is the foundation of the CAC model. Conducted by a highly trained professional in a child-friendly room, the forensic interview gives the child a safe, supportive space to share their experience in their own words and at their own pace.
Critically, the child only has to tell their story once. Law enforcement, child protective services, and other professionals observe the interview through a one-way mirror or video feed, gathering the information they need without requiring the child to repeat their account multiple times to multiple people. Last year, Kimberly’s Center conducted 659 forensic interviews with children in Marion County.
Step 2: Medical Assessment
Following the forensic interview, many children receive a medical exam conducted by a healthcare professional who specializes in child abuse. This exam documents any physical evidence of abuse and ensures the child receives any necessary medical care. Last year, Kimberly’s Center conducted 508 medical assessments.
Step 3: Trauma Therapy
Healing from abuse takes time, support, and specialized care. Kimberly’s Center’s trauma-informed therapists work with children to help them understand that the abuse was never their fault, build healthy coping skills, and begin the journey toward restoration. Last year, the team provided 2,198 therapy sessions to children in Marion County.
One of the specialized approaches used at Kimberly’s Center is Sand Tray Therapy, an evidence-informed treatment that allows children to safely express thoughts and emotions that may be too difficult to verbalize. Through miniature figures and symbolic play in the sand, children can externalize their inner experiences and begin to process their trauma in a developmentally appropriate way.
Step 4: Advocacy
Child Advocates at Kimberly’s Center work alongside children and their non-offending families throughout the entire process. They provide crisis support, case management, and connections to essential community resources — ensuring that children and families are not left to navigate the aftermath of abuse alone.
For children who must enter the foster care system, Child Advocates are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide care and comfort while children wait for their first foster placement. Last year, 76 children were supported through this critical transition.
Step 5: Prevention
Kimberly’s Center believes that the best response to child abuse is preventing it from happening in the first place. Through the Prevention Project, Kimberly’s Center brings the Monique Burr Foundation’s evidence-based Child Safety Matters curriculum to every public school in Marion County, teaching children and teens about body safety, bullying, cyberbullying, and digital dangers. Last year, 32,621 students received this life-changing education.
Who Does Kimberly’s Center Serve?
Kimberly’s Center serves children from early stages through 17 who have experienced or are suspected of having experienced abuse or neglect in Marion County. Services are also available to their non-offending family members and caregivers.
In the 2024-2025 year, Kimberly’s Center served 1,356 children; 59% female and 41% male, ranging in age from infants to teenagers. Every service is provided at no cost to children and families.
Why Does the CAC Model Matter?
Research consistently shows that the CAC model reduces trauma for child abuse victims, improves the quality of investigations, and leads to better outcomes in the courtroom. By bringing law enforcement, medical professionals, therapists, and child advocates together in one coordinated response, Children’s Advocacy Centers ensure that children receive the right care at the right time without the added burden of a fragmented, confusing process.
How You Can Help
Kimberly’s Center provides all services at no cost to children and families. That is only possible because of the generous support of our community.
Here are a few ways you can make a difference:
- Make a donation at kimberlyscenter.org
- Share our mission with your network
- Volunteer your time and skills
- Become a corporate partner
To learn more about Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection and the services we provide, visit kimberlyscenter.org or call 352-873-4739.