Children's Advocacy Center of Kent County

What Children's Advocacy Center of Kent County does

Children's Advocacy Center of Kent County (legal name: Children's Assessment Center) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 and headquartered at 2855 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan. It operates a multidisciplinary, child-centered service model for child victims of sexual abuse in Kent County, co-locating forensic interviewers trained in the State of Michigan Forensic Interviewing Protocol, licensed therapists delivering TF-CBT, EMDR, and Play Therapy, advocates, and on-site law enforcement and Children's Protective Services investigators under one roof. Medical exams are delivered through a partnership with YWCA, and the Kids Have Rights™ school-based prevention program teaches body safety to K-4 students across Kent County schools. Complementary offerings include Professional & Community Training and the Hope Grows Here therapeutic healing garden.

The organization employs 11–50 staff and is led by President & CEO Leah Ortiz, with a Board of Directors chaired by Lance Werner (Executive Director, Kent District Library). It does not disclose annual revenue. The business model is purely donation-funded: services are provided free of charge to child victims and non-offending family members, with revenue sourced from individual donations (via the Give Lively platform, Venmo, stocks, securities, mutual funds, IRAs, and Donor Advised Funds), the Ambassador Program ($1,000+ annual contributions), an endowment managed through the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, planned giving, in-kind contributions, and institutional grants (e.g., $10,000 from Greater Beneficial Union of Pittsburgh, April 2025). Go-to-market is community-driven: referrals arrive from law enforcement, CPS, schools, and caregivers, supplemented by professional training for community organizations and donor engagement through events, volunteers, and a multi-platform social media presence. The Center holds the Candid Silver Seal of Transparency (2024) and the Kids Have Rights™ registered trademark.

Name

Children's Advocacy Center of Kent County

Legal name

Children's Assessment Center

Website

https://cac-kent.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Children's Advocacy Center of Kent County is a Grand Rapids, Michigan 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers forensic interviews, therapy, advocacy, medical exams, and the Kids Have Rights™ prevention program to child sexual abuse victims and their families in Kent County, funded by community donations, grants, and an endowment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Advocacy and Abuse Intervention Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGABAG

Child Protection & Child Rights

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYBPADAGAG

Child Rights & Protection

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Human Rights, Democracy & Governance

SECONDARYEDAJAEAJ

Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Alternative & At-Risk K–12 Education (Continuation, Recovery, Juvenile)

SECONDARYHSAAAIAI

Mental Health & Emotional/Trauma-Informed Childcare (anxiety, PTSD)

Home & Personal Services/Childcare, Babysitting & Nanny Services/Special Needs & Inclusive Childcare Services

Keywords

• Child sexual abuse services
• Forensic interview services
• Trauma therapy programs
• Child advocacy center
• Prevention education

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual donors contribute to support the Center's services. The organization accepts donations via its website (Give Lively platform), Venmo, stocks, securities, mutual funds, IRAs, and Donor Advised Funds. The Ambassador Program requires a minimum annual contribution of $1,000.
2. Endowment and Planned Giving: Donors can contribute to an endowment fund through the Grand Rapids Community Foundation or include the Center in their will or estate plans, providing long-term sustainable funding.
3. In-Kind Support: The Center accepts in-kind donations including snacks, comfort items for children, cleaning supplies, and wish list items. Amazon Wish List provides specific needed items.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Center provides a coordinated multidisciplinary response to child sexual abuse under one roof, including trauma-informed forensic interviews, short-term therapy (TF-CBT, EMDR, Play Therapy), family advocacy and court support, non-invasive medical exams via YWCA, the Kids Have Rights™ school-based prevention curriculum for K-4 students, professional training, and a healing garden. All services are delivered free of charge to child victims and non-offending family members in Kent County, Michigan.

Product overview

Children's Advocacy Center of Kent County is a nonprofit organization providing a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach to supporting child victims of sexual abuse. The Center brings together forensic interviews, therapy services (TF-CBT, EMDR, Play Therapy), advocacy and support services, medical exams (via YWCA partnership), the Kids Have Rights™ school-based prevention program, professional training, and a therapeutic healing garden—all under one roof so children do not have to repeat their stories to multiple professionals. Services are provided free of charge to children and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kids Have Rights™: School-based prevention program created by the Center that educates and empowers students, school staff, parents, and caregivers to recognize, report, and prevent child sexual abuse. Provides body safety education to children in kindergarten through 4th grade.

Products and services

• Forensic Interviews Trauma-informed forensic interviews conducted by staff trained in the State of Michigan Forensic Interviewing Protocol. Designed to elicit detailed information about alleged events while assessing child safety and supporting criminal prosecution.
• Client Services (Therapy) Short-term weekly therapy services for child victims of sexual abuse, using TF-CBT, EMDR, and Play Therapy evidence-based modalities. Provided free of charge to children and non-offending family members.
• Client Services (Advocacy and Support) Advocacy support connecting families with clinical services, providing court education and tours, scheduling medical exams, and informing families about external services throughout the healing and justice processes.
• Medical Exams Non-invasive medical exams conducted in partnership with YWCA, consisting of a basic well-child exam with specialized sexual abuse examination components, allowing children and caregivers to ask questions and receive reassurance.
• Kids Have Rights™ School-based child sexual abuse prevention program providing body safety education to children in kindergarten through 4th grade, including interactive classroom lessons and resources for school staff, parents, and caregivers.
• Professional and Community Training Child Sexual Abuse Prevention training for community organizations, schools, and professionals, providing professional development opportunities and prevention education.
• Hope Grows Here (Healing Garden) Therapeutic outdoor space with native plantings, flowing water, and a drum circle providing sensory stimulation and healing environment for children who have experienced trauma.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of children served know their offender (versus 90% national average)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• YWCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center partners with YWCA to conduct medical exams for child sexual abuse victims. Exams consist of a basic well-child exam with the addition of a specialized, non-invasive sexual abuse exam, providing children and caregivers opportunity to ask questions and receive reassurance.
• Grand Rapids Community FoundationcoreOthersDonations to the Center's endowment fund are managed through the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, providing long-term sustainable funding for life-changing services for Kent County children.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Darkness to Light: National nonprofit focused specifically on child sexual abuse prevention education and adult training. Directly comparable to the Center's Kids Have Rights™ prevention program and professional/community training line, with a similar mission of reducing child sexual abuse through education.
• Children's Advocacy Center of Genesee County: Another accredited Michigan Children's Advocacy Center operating the same National Children's Alliance multidisciplinary model for child sexual abuse victims in Genesee County. Directly comparable operating model, services, and funding structure within the same state.
• National Children's Alliance: The national membership and accrediting body for Children's Advocacy Centers across the United States. Operates the same multidisciplinary CAC model that the Kent County Center implements, providing standards, training, and accreditation to which the subject organization adheres.
• Children's Advocacy Center of Oakland County: Another accredited Michigan CAC providing forensic interviews, therapy, and advocacy for child abuse victims in Oakland County. Directly comparable service portfolio, accreditation status, and funding model as a sibling CAC within Michigan.
• Michigan CASA: Michigan statewide organization supporting Court Appointed Special Advocates for abused and neglected children. Comparable in advocating for child victims through the court and child welfare systems within the same Michigan service ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Childhelp: Large national nonprofit operating the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, advocacy programs, and residential treatment facilities for abused children. Addresses the same child abuse victim population as the Center but at significantly larger national scale and broader service scope.
• Prevent Child Abuse America: National umbrella organization focused on preventing child abuse and neglect through advocacy, research, and a network of state chapters. Operates adjacent to the Center's prevention mission with broader scope across all forms of child maltreatment.
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: National nonprofit working to find missing children and prevent child exploitation, operating the CyberTipline and recovery programs. Comparable in that it serves child victims of serious crimes and coordinates closely with law enforcement, but with a different primary mission.

Regional players

• Safe Haven Ministries: Grand Rapids-area nonprofit serving survivors of domestic abuse and sexual exploitation, including children. Operates in the same West Michigan geography as the Center with overlapping client populations and referral relationships.

Others

• YWCA West Central Michigan: Existing strategic partner of the Center that conducts non-invasive sexual abuse medical exams. Operates adjacent services (sexual assault response, domestic violence support) that overlap with the Center's clinical continuum in the same region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KentCAC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cackent
• Instagraminstagram.com/cac_kent
• TikToktiktok.com/@cackent?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Children's Advocacy Center of Kent County