The Georgia Center for Child Advocacy champions the needs of sexually and severely physically abused children through prevention, intervention, therapy and collaboration.
The Georgia Center for Child Advocacy is a nationally accredited child advocacy center (CAC) furthering our mission to champion the needs of sexually and severely physically abused children through prevention, intervention, therapy and collaboration. From conducting the initial forensic interview, to supporting the family through our advocacy services, to then providing trauma-focused therapy treatment – we promote a comprehensive response for families in crisis. In addition, we are also stressing protective factors by providing statewide prevention education, professional trainings, and outreach. Our work intersects with families, caregivers, child welfare professionals, the juvenile justice system, law enforcement, school personnel, healthcare providers, and most importantly, youth themselves.
Since opening our doors in 1987, we have provided a safe and healing space for nearly 20,000 children, offering a safe haven for abused children, providing long-term psychological treatment to victims and their families, and assisting in the investigation of abuse cases. All services are offered at no cost to children age 17 and under who reside, or were abused, in DeKalb and Fulton Counties.
Since 2006, Georgia Center for Child Advocacy and statewide facilitators have trained over 197,000 adults across Georgia to prevent child abuse and reduce childhood trauma through various programs and have begun to add new curricula aimed at addressing the ever-evolving needs of Georgia's children and families.
In 1992, we became the first CAC to be accredited by the National Children’s Alliance in Georgia - proudly becoming the 10th agency in the country. We were honored as the recipient of the 1994 Child Survival Award given the UNICEF and The Carter Center, as the designated charity of the 1997 Cathedral Antiques Show, the beneficiary of the 2000 WXIA Community Service Awards Dinner. Georgia Minority Business Awards named us 2009’s Non-Profit of the Year.
Over the last three decades, we have become a leader in the nation – helping lead both the response to and conversation surrounding childhood trauma and abuse. While our services have expanded and evolved over the years, our core vision has never wavered. We are building a better world one child at a time.
What services are provided?
• Forensic interviews at the request of law enforcement or the Department of Family and Children's Services
• Advocacy and support for children and families
• Case coordination in partnership with our multidisciplinary team members
• Trauma informed therapy services for children and their non-offending family members
• Stewards of Children child sexual abuse prevention training for adults throughout Georgia
• Professional training
What kinds of cases are seen at the Child Advocacy Center?
We provide intervention and therapy services to children under the age of 18, who are alleged to have been victims of:
• Sexual abuse
• Serious physical abuse
• Violent crime including being a witness to violence
In 2021, the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy:
- Provided 671 forensic interviews of children alleged to be victims of physical, sexual abuse, commercial sexual exploitation, or children who witnessed violence;
- Conducted 884 therapy sessions; Including 1,176 hours of life-saving trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy;
- Trained 11, 884 adults in a variety of Child Abuse Prevention curricula designed to better protect children from sexual abuse and child maltreatment across the state of Georgia through our family of trainers and facilitators.
Collaboration is key. While we primarily serve Fulton and DeKalb counties, we also operate numerous statewide initiatives that educate the public, advance the field and improve responses to childhood trauma. Our participation on local, state and national coalitions below helps create a collective impact to promote better response and outcomes for children who experience trafficking, abuse and trauma.
CACGA CSEC Response Team
Child Fatality Review Board
Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia, Inc.
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Human Trafficking Task Force
Georgia Coalition to Combat Human Trafficking
Georgia Department of Education
Georgia Department of Public Health
Georgia Essentials for Children
Gwinnett County Child Sexual Assault Prevention Committee
Latino Coalition for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
National Children’s Alliance
National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
NCTSN Child Sex Trafficking Collaborative
Prevent Child Abuse Georgia
Resilient Georgia
“GCCA is an inspiration here in Georgia. The team at GCCA dreams
big in their fight against child abuse in Georgia and they consistently
deliver amazing results. Every GCCA team member is also willing to
share their knowledge with the rest of the Georgia Network of
Child Advocacy Centers, so that we can all be the best and provide
hope for healing consistently across the state.”
-CEO, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia, Inc.
