The non-profit agency of Waco is moving to accommodate the growing need for victim services in six Central Texas counties, including Freestone. In 2016, Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children provided crisis intervention and counseling to 1,174 clients, provided 629 forensic interviews and 74 medical exams of children 17 and under at the agency view website to get all the details about this. Over a hundred parents attended parenting classes and 164 sexual assault nurse examinations were done at local hospitals (adults and children). Through our prevention program our staff gave over 900 presentations to over 8,200 attendees.
The numbers so far for 2017 so are even higher for nine months than those for the entire year of 2016.
The Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children will be moving to 3312 Hillcrest Drive in Waco, Texas.
“After an extensive search, we feel this building will enable us to better serve our clients. We will continue to be on the Waco Transit bus line, we will have room for growth and ample parking space, both of which are currently an issue. In addition to keeping the Waco Police Department’s Crimes Against Children Unit housed with us, having them in close proximity is beneficial to the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases. Without the added space of the larger building, we were at risk of them moving to another location,” said Barbara Wright, Executive Director.
Construction to outfit the building will take several months with an expected completion date of March 2018. Some of the features of the new location include an arrangement that will ensure survivors will not have to encounter alleged perpetrators; a medical exam room large enough to accommodate a physician, a child and both parents, with space for such things as a wheelchair, if needed; and staff, students and detectives will no longer have to share offices. Instead, each will have their own office in order to better offer these much-needed services.
“As the number of reports increase and survivors of violent crime feel more comfortable seeking care, we feel it is imperative for us to move to a larger space in order for us to meet our mission. We are excited about the move and look forward to continuing to provide services in central Texas communities,” Wright said.
