Children’s Advocacy Center
If you suspect child abuse, please call the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-392-3738 or contact your local law enforcement agency
Our mission is to facilitate a community-based collaborative effort to improve the system’s response to allegations of child abuse and neglect by following the ChildFirst Doctrine
CHILDREN FIRST
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
SAFE INTERVIEWS
ADOVCACY
SERVICES
BENEFITS
- Restructure the interview process to meet the needs of the child
- Fewer interviews lead to less trauma to the child
- Collaborate between agencies involved in child abuse investigations
- Identify needed services for the child and family
- Provide mental health services for the child and family
- Provide coordination and collaboration of medical services
- Identify gaps in services and the investigation process
- Provide specialized training for staff and multidisciplinary teams
- Provide quality assurance through case review with all agencies involved
Child and Family Therapist Office
Child Interview Room
Child-Friendly Waiting Area
TEAMWORK
At present, the counties served by the CAC and similar agencies across the nation are faced with this reality: many of our children are being abused.
Each year, the CAC and its multidisciplinary team members investigate numerous cases of suspected physical and sexual child abuse while providing services to children and their families.
The CAC offers a coordinated, multidisciplinary intervention system involving agencies and the community.
- The Children’s Division
- The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office>
- Law Enforcement
- The Juvenile Office
- Medical Personnel
- Mental Health Professionals
- CAC Staff
- Community Volunteers
We are a part of a nationwide effort to reduce the trauma of abuse, so children are not re-victimized by the system designed to protect them.
In the past, victims seeking help faced multiple contacts with different community professionals, creating a maze of confusion for the child and family.
With the support of the community, the CAC enables the child to visit one location for safety, protection, and justice instead of going from agency to agency.
- Kimberly Kemerer – Executive Director
- Kelsey Christisen – Farmington Forensic Interviewer
- Haley Easley – Union Forensic Interviewer
- Autumn Colvis – Prevention Specialist
- Abby Manning – Festus Forensic Interviewer
- Bonita Hecktor- Union Family Advocate
- Amy Hall – Union Child & Family Therapist
- Stephanie Lane – Festus Child & Family Therapist
- Samantha Harris – Farmington Family Advocate
- Matt Lindemeyer – President – Missouri State Technical Assistance Team – Field Investigator
- Matthew Becker – Vice President –
Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office – Prosecuting Attorney - Karen Stetina – Secretary – Director Of The Child Protection Unit Jefferson County Juvenile Office
- Trisha Stefanski – Member – Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office – Prosecuting Attorney
- Ms. Debra Thomas – Member – 42nd Circuit Juvenile Office – Deputy Juvenile Officer
- Lt. Gary Higginbotham – Member – Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
- Ms. Dina Vitoux, LCSW – Member – Mental Health Counseling Concepts
- Captain Chuck Subke – Member – Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
- Dr. David Stansfield – Member – Physician Medical Services – Safe/Care Provider
- Ms. Cindy Vessell – Member – Senior Director of Community Services
- Melissa Gilliam – Member – St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office – Prosecuting Attorney
- Det. Dustin Smith – Member – Farmington Police Department
- Ms. Mary Gorman- Non-Voting Member – Northern Region Children’s Division
