By: Alyssa Mikell, Program Director

The Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center was created in 1992, not long after the first Children’s Advocacy Center was created in 1985 in Huntsville, Alabama. Former Congressman Robert E “Bud” Cramer, then-District Attorney for Madison County, AL., saw Social Services and the Criminal Justice System were not working together, which created a more traumatizing experience for child abuse victims. Former Congressman Cramer, with the help of other key individuals, brought together law enforcement, child protective services, the criminal justice system, medical personnel, and mental health workers to create what is now the National Children’s Advocacy Center. Using a coordinated, multi-disciplinary team approach, the systems could work together to help reduce the trauma of child victims.

The Multi-Disciplinary approach to child abuse allows the different systems/agencies involved in a child abuse case to work together, share information, and reduce the number of times a child must talk about their abuse. Therefore, creating an easier path to healing in the future. The Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center’s Founder, Yvonne Evans, found this approach to be what the Hill Country was lacking for their children and set forth to create our Center. The Center is where all disciplines come to the child, in a comfortable, non-threatening setting. Allowing the child to speak to a neutral, professionally trained individual using a method that is legally defensible in court in order to gain the necessary information at one time for all disciplines. Many changes have taken place over the nearly 30 years that the Center has been in operation but putting the children first will always be our priority.

The first time a family walks into the Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center they will be offered multiple different services. The child(ren) will receive a forensic interview, by highly trained individuals. The family will receive advocacy from one of our qualified Family Advocates. Our advocates are always available to our families to seek assistance or guidance for anything from assistance with Medicaid or SNAP to finding therapy resources for the whole family. In certain situations, the child(ren) may also receive a medical exam by a Registered Nurse, to ensure safety and make medical recommendations, as needed.