NTNortheast Texas Child Advocacy Center
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About Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center
When a child has experienced abuse or witnessed violence, NETCAC gives them a safe place to share what happened with a trained forensic interviewer, without having to repeat the experience to multiple agencies. In Winnsboro and across Northeast Texas, children and their non-offending family members can receive advocacy, therapy, and investigation support at no cost. Donors also help fund prevention education, including Play it Safe!® programming, so children and adults have tools to recognize and report abuse.
NETCAC brings forensic interviewing, family advocacy, therapy, and coordinated support for investigations together at no cost to families. Its work also reaches beyond crisis response through community education, Play it Safe!® programming, and training for the professionals who support children and families.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Forensic interviews
Specialty-trained forensic interviewers provide non-leading, age-appropriate interviews so children can share their experiences in a safe environment without repeatedly recounting them to multiple agencies.
Family advocacy
Family advocates support children and non-offending family members during investigation, prosecution, and healing. Support includes therapy referrals, information about Crime Victims' Rights, assistance with Crime Victims' Compensation, and guidance with community resources.
Trauma-focused therapy
Licensed and contracted therapists provide evidence-based therapy, including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, play therapy, and EMDR, for child abuse victims and non-offending caregivers.
Community education and awareness
NETCAC provides awareness programs and presentations for churches, civic organizations, school districts, businesses, and other community groups to help people recognize, prevent, and report child abuse.
Play it Safe!®
An evidence-based, age-appropriate child abuse prevention program for children from pre-kindergarten through high school covering topics such as safe and unsafe touches, online safety, healthy relationships, and reporting abuse.
Partner agency training
NETCAC offers training for law enforcement, child protective services, victim advocates, mental health professionals, prosecutors, and other multidisciplinary team partners. Topics include multidisciplinary team orientation, investigator courses, legal updates, and crimes-against-children conferences.
Caring Closet
The Caring Closet provides children and families served by NETCAC with new clothing, shoes, hygiene products, and baby items at no cost.
Holiday of Hope and Angel Tree
NETCAC works with community members, donors, and sponsors to provide holiday gifts and support for children and families served by the center.
About this work
Mission
To bring hope and healing while working together to break the cycle of child abuse.
Who they serve
Children ages 3-17 in Northeast Texas who have experienced sexual abuse or severe physical abuse, witnessed a violent crime or drug use in their homes, and their non-offending family members. Some source materials describe the age range as 2-17.
Their impact
- More than 12,000 children have been served since NETCAC began in 1998.
- NETCAC provides trauma-informed services free of charge to more than 500 children who come through its doors each year.
- NETCAC averages support for more than 350 children each year through its holiday program.
- NETCAC had interviewed more than 9,600 children since its inception as of its 2021 re-accreditation announcement.
- NETCAC received a $48,250 donation from the Help-A-Child Benefit, described as the largest charitable gift in the organization's history.
How your donation helps
- Trauma-informed services for children and families served by NETCAC
- New clothing, shoes, hygiene products, and baby items through the Caring Closet
- Holiday gifts and support for children and families through the Angel Tree and Holiday of Hope programs
- Community education and child abuse prevention activities
- Free therapy and family advocacy services
Need help?
How someone in need can access Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center’s services.
Children and families generally access NETCAC through referrals and coordinated involvement from law enforcement, Child Protective Services, prosecutors, medical professionals, or other partner agencies. Law enforcement and CPS personnel can contact NETCAC to schedule a forensic interview at 903-629-7588. Families can contact the office at 903-629-7588 or info@netcac.org for other inquiries. Services are provided at no cost to child victims and their non-offending caregivers. Suspected abuse can be reported anonymously through the Texas Abuse Hotline website, or urgently by calling 800-252-5400 or local law enforcement.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
"Breaking the Cycle of Abuse, One Child at a Time"
"To bring hope and healing while working together to break the cycle of child abuse."
"To create a future free from child abuse through courage, hope, and healing for children in northeast Texas."
"It takes a community, and that’s what we have."
"We can provide trauma-informed services free of charge to more than 500 children who come through our doors each year because of this support."
Grant support
$9,237 from 2 funders · through 2021 (IRS 990 records).
- EAST TEXAS COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION — $7,319 (2021)General Support
- COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTH TEXAS INC — $1,000 (2020)FOR GENERAL PURPOSES
- COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTH TEXAS INC — $918 (2018)FOR OPERATING EXPENSES
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center has shared.
Current needs
- New clothing, shoes, hygiene products, and baby items for the Caring Closet
- New toys and clothing for children supported through the Angel Tree and Holiday of Hope programs
- Financial contributions for services to children and families
- Community sponsors for Angel Tree children
- Volunteers for family room assistance, community presentations, administrative support, fundraising events, and holiday programs
Volunteer opportunities
- Family Room assistance
- Social work and counseling internships with Clinical Director approval
- Community presentations
- Providing meals for meetings and events
- Administrative and office support
- Staff fundraising or community events
- Assistance with the Holiday of Hope program
Recognition & press
Awards & recognition
- National Children's Alliance re-accreditation, 2021
- National accreditation as a Child Advocacy Center, with compliance with Texas Family Code standards
In the media
- KSST Radio covered the appointment of NETCAC Executive Director Lauren Fleming to the Regional Sexual Assault Response Team in January 2023.
Press & mentions
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
What happens during a NETCAC forensic interview?
A specialty-trained forensic interviewer speaks with the child in a non-leading, age-appropriate way. Law enforcement and Child Protective Services can observe from a separate location, helping the child avoid repeating the experience to multiple agencies.
Who works together through the Child Advocacy Center model?
NETCAC coordinates law enforcement, Child Protective Services, prosecutors, medical professionals, mental health specialists, and other multidisciplinary partners. Together, they develop strategies for each child and case.
Can family members receive support as well as children?
Yes. Family advocates help non-offending family members with therapy referrals, information about Crime Victims' Rights, assistance with Crime Victims' Compensation, and guidance with community resources. Non-offending caregivers may also receive trauma-focused therapy at no cost.
What age children does NETCAC serve?
The About Us page identifies children ages 3-17 who have experienced sexual abuse or severe physical abuse, or witnessed violent crime or drug use in their homes. Other NETCAC materials describe the age range as 2-17.
How does NETCAC help prevent child abuse?
NETCAC offers community presentations and Play it Safe!® programming for children from pre-kindergarten through high school. The lessons cover unsafe behavior, responding to risks, online safety, healthy relationships, and reporting abuse to a trusted adult.
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