Children's Advocacy Center of Smith County

What Children's Advocacy Center of Smith County does

Children's Advocacy Center of Smith County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 as a spin-off from the East Texas Crisis Center, headquartered in Tyler, Texas. It provides a coordinated, evidence-based response to child abuse victims from birth through age 17 in Smith County and surrounding East Texas counties, and operates as a National Children's Alliance (NCA)-accredited Children's Advocacy Center. Core services include forensic interviews, victim and family advocacy, medical evaluations (SANE), trauma-focused therapy (TF-CBT, EMDR, DBT), and a Rainbow Room that supplies immediate material needs. A multidisciplinary team (MDT) co-locates 20+ partner agencies — including law enforcement, the Smith County District Attorney's office, Child Protective Investigations, and medical/mental health providers — to streamline investigations and reduce secondary trauma.

The business model is donation- and grant-funded; all services are provided free of charge to victims. Reported 2020 revenue mix was federal grants (32%), private foundations (36%), state and local government (17%), special events (12%), and United Way/combined federal campaigns (3%). The organization employs approximately 35-50 staff, operates a satellite location in Henderson, Texas, and runs a Trauma-Informed Schools program across multiple East Texas school districts. Recent capital and program expansion includes a new facility opened in 2021 with a $600,000 Mabee Foundation challenge grant, a play therapy program launched in 2025, and added bilingual capacity to serve the growing Hispanic population of East Texas.

Name

Children's Advocacy Center of Smith County

Legal name

Children's Advocacy Center of Smith County

Website

https://cacsmithcounty.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Children's Advocacy Center of Smith County is a nonprofit serving child abuse victims in East Texas through forensic interviews, trauma therapy, medical exams, and a 20+ agency multidisciplinary team. NCA-accredited, donor-funded, and free to victims.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Advocacy and Victim Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGABAG

Child Protection & Child Rights

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

SECONDARYBPADADAH

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Humanitarian Relief & Emergency Response

SECONDARYBPAGADAM

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

Keywords

• Child abuse victim services
• Forensic interviews
• Trauma-informed therapy
• Child abuse prevention training
• Multidisciplinary team coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Tyler

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual donors, corporations, and organizations provide charitable contributions to support operations and programs. Services are provided free to victims of abuse.
2. Foundation Grants: 36% of 2020 funding came from foundations including Mabee Foundation ($600,000 challenge grant) and Women's Fund ($66,000 grant).
3. Government Grants: Federal grants (32%) and state grants (9%) comprise significant funding sources. Local government provides 1%.
4. Program Revenue: 4% of funding from program services including training programs (Stewards of Children workshop at $10/participant).
5. Fundraising Events: Annual events including Bling-O, Golf Tournament, Battle of the Badges, Holiday of Hope, and April Awareness Luncheon generate community support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Children's Advocacy Center of Smith County (CACSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides coordinated child abuse victim services including forensic interviews, victim family advocacy, trauma-focused therapy, medical forensic examinations (SANE), and emergency resources (Rainbow Room), along with community education and abuse prevention training for parents, students, educators, and professional reporters. All services for victims are provided free of charge, with operations funded by donations, foundation and government grants, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Children's Advocacy Center of Smith County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing a coordinated suite of victim services and community education programs. The core victim services include Forensic Interviews (minimizing trauma through one-on-one fact-finding conversations), Victim Family Services (family advocates supporting the whole family), Medical Services (SANE examinations), Therapy Services (trauma-focused mental health care), and the Rainbow Room (emergency resource center for basic needs). These are complemented by extensive community education and training programs including Parent Training (Internet Safety, How to Protect Your Child), Student Training (P.S. It's My Body for Pre-K/K, Play It Safe! for K-8th), Trauma-Informed Schools for educators, Professional Reporter Training (Stewards of Children), and General Community Training. The organization also operates volunteer programs, donor circles (Lily's Giving Circle monthly giving, Women of Courage ambassadors), and annual fundraising events (Bling-O, Golf Tournament, Battle of the Badges, Holiday of Hope, April Awareness Luncheon). All services are provided free of charge to child abuse victims birth through 17 years of age.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Forensic Interviews A one-on-one, fact-finding conversation with a skilled professional in a child-friendly environment that gives all involved agencies the information needed to conduct a thorough investigation while minimizing trauma to child victims.
• Victim Family Services Family Advocates who walk alongside families to provide guidance, resources, and healing support, serving as the link between victims and the multidisciplinary team.
• Medical Services Non-emergency and emergency medical exams for child abuse victims including Sexual Assault Nurse Examinations (SANEs), providing evidence collection for law enforcement and medical care in a peaceful, child-friendly environment.
• Therapy Services Child-friendly, trauma-focused therapy provided by licensed mental health professionals using evidence-based treatment modalities including TF-CBT, EMDR, and DBT.
• Rainbow Room An in-house emergency resource center providing basic needs such as car seats, pack-n-play cribs, diapers, clothing, and household supplies to empower families to care for victims.
• Trauma-Informed Schools Training Training program for school administrators and staff on recognizing trauma signs, building relationships, and providing emotional support to help traumatized students thrive.
• Student Prevention Programs Age-appropriate programs including P.S. It's My Body for Pre-K and Kindergarten students and Play It Safe! for K-8th graders, empowering students to recognize, resist, and report abuse.
• Professional Reporter Training Training for businesses, community organizations, daycares, and churches including the Stewards of Children workshop to recognize, report, and prevent child abuse.
• Parent Education Programs Internet Safety Workshop, How to Protect Your Child guide, and Parent Center community resource directory equipping parents with knowledge and tools to protect their children.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 in 56 children in Smith County becomes a reported victim of abuse annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Smith County Criminal District Attorney's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Multi-Disciplinary Team that coordinates child abuse investigations and prosecution. The DA's office receives forensic interview recordings and prosecutes criminal cases arising from child abuse investigations.
• Department of Family and Protective Services (Child Protective Investigations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPI refers child abuse cases to CACSC and participates in the Multi-Disciplinary Team. Investigators observe forensic interviews via closed-circuit television.
• Tyler Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw enforcement partner on the MDT. Police investigators observe forensic interviews and conduct criminal investigations of child abuse cases.
• Smith County Sheriff's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSheriff's deputies participate in MDT and investigations. Sheriff Larry R. Smith hosts the annual Smiles FORE Kids Golf Tournament benefitting CACSC.
• CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Northeast Texas RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing medical services and expertise. CHRISTUS health staff participate in the Child Fatality Review Team.
• UT Health East TexascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing medical services. UT Health staff participate in the Child Fatality Review Team and MDT activities.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal law enforcement partner participating in the MDT for cases involving federal jurisdiction.
• Texas Department of Public SafetycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState law enforcement partner on MDT. DPS personnel participate in the Child Fatality Review Team.
• Texas Department of State Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState health agency partner participating in the Child Fatality Review Team.
• Children's Advocacy Centers of TexascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization providing accreditation, standards, and support for 70 Children's Advocacy Centers serving 92% of Texas children.
• National Children's AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational accreditation body for Children's Advocacy Centers, setting standards for quality and effectiveness.
• United Way of Smith CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way agency partner providing funding support and community connections.
• East Texas Community FoundationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosts East Texas Giving Day, during which CACSC participates to raise funds from community donors.
• Multiple Smith County School DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArp ISD, Bullard ISD, Chapel Hill ISD, Lindale ISD, Tyler ISD, Whitehouse ISD, Winona ISD and others partner for Trauma-Informed Schools training and student abuse prevention education programs.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National Children's Alliance: National accrediting body for CACs across the U.S. NCA sets the operational standards (including forensic interview and MDT protocols) that CACSC is accredited against, and provides training, technical assistance, and federal advocacy that shape CAC funding and operations.
• Childhelp: National nonprofit focused on child abuse prevention, intervention, and treatment — operates the National Child Abuse Hotline and residential programs. Comparable mission (advocacy, education, treatment for abused children) but operates at a national, multi-program scale rather than a single-county service-delivery model.
• Prevent Child Abuse America: National organization focused on child abuse prevention through public awareness, research, and state chapter network. Operates the 'Pinwheels for Prevention' campaign and Healthy Families America home-visiting model — a comparable prevention and education mission to CACSC's training programs.
• Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas: Statewide membership and accreditation body for the 70 Texas Children's Advocacy Centers. CACTX sets standards, provides training, and represents the network that CACSC belongs to — a structural peer and umbrella rather than a direct service competitor.

Emerging players

• Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center: Center that pioneered the ChildFirst forensic interview protocol used by CACs nationally, including CACSC. Comparable on the clinical/curriculum side (forensic interview training) rather than direct service delivery.
• Wellspring Family Services (formerly Childhaven): Multi-service child welfare nonprofit offering early childhood mental health, trauma therapy, and family support. Comparable on the therapeutic and family-advocacy side of CACSC's offering, though typically operates in urban Pacific Northwest markets rather than East Texas.

Regional players

• East Texas Crisis Center: Tyler-based nonprofit that originally housed the child abuse program before CACSC was spun off in 1999. Today provides domestic violence and sexual assault services in the same East Texas region — overlapping referral pathways and donor base with CACSC.

Direct peers

• Darkness to Light: National nonprofit specializing in child sexual abuse prevention education, including the Stewards of Children training program that CACSC delivers locally. Darkness to Light operates as the curriculum steward and national distributor — directly comparable to CACSC's professional reporter training offering.
• Houston Area Children's Advocacy Center: Accredited CAC serving greater Harris County with the same multi-disciplinary team model — forensic interviewing, trauma therapy, medical exams, and family advocacy. Comparable mission and service mix, with a much larger urban catchment.
• Dallas Children's Advocacy Center: Another accredited Children's Advocacy Center in Texas delivering forensic interviews, therapy, family advocacy, and MDT coordination for child abuse victims. DCAC serves Dallas County at significantly larger scale but operates on the same NCA/CACTX accredited framework as CACSC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cac_smithcounty
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmwWdmjoBKvda7ROWu1avkw/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChildrensAdvocacyCenterofSmithCounty
• Instagraminstagram.com/cactyler
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/children-s-advocacy-center-of-smith-county

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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