Memphis Child Advocacy Center

What Memphis Child Advocacy Center does

The Memphis Child Advocacy Center is a 501(c)-class nonprofit founded in 1992 and headquartered at 1085 Poplar Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. It provides coordinated response and treatment services for children who are victims of sexual and severe physical abuse in Shelby County. Core services include forensic interviews conducted by trained interviewers, trauma-focused therapy delivered by masters-level clinicians, family advocacy (court preparation, resource navigation, housing and domestic-violence support), and forensic medical exams delivered by an on-site partner clinic. The center also offers primary prevention through the Stewards of Children child sexual abuse prevention training program, with more than 25,000 adults trained to date, and provides child protection policy consultation to youth-serving organizations.

The CAC operates as the physical and operational hub of the Shelby County Child Protective Investigation Team (CPIT), a coordinated multi-agency response involving 15 partner organizations — including the Memphis Police Child Abuse Squad, the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, the District Attorney's Special Victims Unit, the FBI, NCIS, the U.S. Attorney's Office, multiple municipal police departments, the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, and the Shelby County Crime Victims and Rape Crisis Center. Many DCS investigators have office space inside the CAC facility. The center is NCA Accredited by the National Children's Alliance and funded in part by the State of Tennessee, giving it quasi-governmental standing as the designated coordinated response hub for the county.

The business model is a public-private partnership sustained by individual and corporate donations, event fundraising (37th Annual Gala, Works of Heart art auction, Honors Day), tiered annual giving programs (Bearing Hope Society at $1,000–$10,000+; Padrinos family-specific assistance), planned giving (Always Alliance), government grants from the State of Tennessee and the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development, and modest training fees. Pricing for Stewards of Children training is freemium for individuals (free virtual sessions twice monthly) with a small workbook fee for organizational sessions. The organization employs approximately 40 staff and operates exclusively within the Shelby County / Memphis metropolitan area.

Name

Memphis Child Advocacy Center

Legal name

Memphis Child Advocacy Center

Website

https://memphiscac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Memphis Child Advocacy Center is a 1992-founded Memphis nonprofit providing forensic interviews, trauma therapy, family advocacy, and child sexual abuse prevention training for child abuse victims in Shelby County. It operates as the coordination hub for a 15-agency investigative team (CPIT) co-located at its facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Advocacy Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

Keywords

• Child abuse prevention
• Forensic interview services
• Trauma therapy services
• Child welfare services
• Prevention education training

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: The Memphis CAC operates as a public-private partnership sustained by generous individuals and organizations in the community. Donations support the center's operations and programs serving child abuse victims.
2. Event Sponsorships and Fundraising: The organization hosts annual fundraising events including the Gala (37th annual, September 2026), Works of Heart art auction, and Honors Day. Sponsorships range from $250 (Heart of Gold) to $15,000 (Champion level). The 36th Annual Gala raised over $255,000.
3. Planned Giving (Always Alliance): The Always Alliance program allows donors to include the Memphis CAC in their estate or long-term financial plans through wills, trusts, life insurance, or retirement plan beneficiary designations.
4. Bearing Hope Society Membership: Annual giving society requiring $1,000+ per year with giving levels: Bronze ($1,000-$2,499), Silver ($2,500-$4,999), Gold ($5,000-$9,999), Platinum ($10,000+).
5. Training Fees: Stewards of Children training sessions held at community organizations typically have a small workbook fee. Free virtual sessions are offered twice monthly for individuals. Scholarships are available.
6. Government Grants and Contracts: The organization receives government funding, including from the state of Tennessee and the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development, which funds family advocacy services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The Memphis Child Advocacy Center provides forensic interviews, masters-level trauma therapy, family advocacy, and child protection policy consultation to child abuse victims and their non-offending family members in Shelby County. It co-locates 15 partner agencies through the Shelby County Child Protective Investigation Team (CPIT) to deliver coordinated investigation, medical assessment, prosecution, and prevention services, and offers the evidence-informed Stewards of Children prevention training to adults and youth-serving organizations virtually and on-site.

Product overview

The Memphis Child Advocacy Center offers a coordinated suite of services for child abuse intervention and prevention. Core services include forensic interviews conducted by trained interviewers, trauma-focused therapy by masters-level therapists, and family advocacy. The primary prevention program is the Stewards of Children child sexual abuse prevention training, available virtually or on-site for organizations. Additional offerings include Child Protection Policy consultation services for youth-serving organizations. The center also operates donor programs including the Bearing Hope Society (annual giving at $1,000+), Padrinos (family-specific assistance), and Always Alliance (planned giving). Major annual fundraising events include the 37th Annual Gala and Works of Heart art auction. The organization is a public-private partnership headquartered at 1085 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN, with the Shelby County Child Protective Investigation Team (15 agencies) based at the center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stewards of Children Training Evidence-informed, 2.5-hour interactive child sexual abuse prevention and response training program for parents, adults, and youth-serving organizations, featuring facilitator-led discussion, workbook activities, and video content with experts and survivors. Delivered virtually (free twice-monthly sessions) and on-site at organizations with 8+ participants (small workbook fee).
• Child Protection Policy Consultation Policy consultation services for youth-serving organizations to create or strengthen child protection policies and procedures, covering staff and volunteer screening, background checks, training, code of conduct, and state reporting requirements.
• Forensic Interviews Neutral, developmentally appropriate forensic interviews conducted by trained child interviewers with children suspected of being abused, observed by investigators via closed-circuit TV to minimize the number of times a child must be questioned. Conducted as part of the CPIT multi-agency response.
• Therapy Services Masters-level trauma therapy for children impacted by sexual or severe physical abuse, including work with non-offending parents and caregivers, shown to reduce post-traumatic stress, behavioral acting out, and emotional stress.
• Family Advocacy Program Advocacy services helping families prepare for court, connect with community resources, and navigate challenges such as housing issues, financial transitions, and domestic violence barriers. Funded in part by the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Therapy significantly reduces post-traumatic stress, behavioral acting out, and emotional stress in children who graduate from the program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Bartlett Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw enforcement partner within the Shelby County Child Protective Investigation Team (CPIT). Part of the 15-agency collaborative response to reported child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse cases.
• Collierville Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw enforcement partner within CPIT. Representatives come to the CAC to meet with families and team members.
• District Attorney General's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProsecutors from the District Attorney's Special Victims Unit meet daily with representatives from law enforcement, child protective services and the Memphis CAC to make prosecution decisions.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation, Memphis DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal law enforcement partner within CPIT providing investigative resources for child abuse cases.
• Germantown Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw enforcement partner within CPIT. Representatives come to the CAC to meet with families and team members.
• Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of CPIT team. Judge Tarik B. Sugarmon participates in the Children's Memorial Flagraising ceremony.
• Le Bonheur Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical partner within CPIT providing healthcare services and expertise for children involved in abuse cases.
• Memphis Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Memphis Police Child Abuse Squad is located at the Memphis CAC. Part of the county's Child Protective Investigation Team.
• Millington Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw enforcement partner within CPIT serving the Millington area of Shelby County.
• Naval Criminal Investigative ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal investigative agency partner within CPIT providing expertise on cases involving military connections.
• Shelby County Crime Victims & Rape Crisis CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides forensic medical assessment, evidence collection, advocacy, and counseling services. Has a clinic onsite at the Memphis CAC. Part of CPIT.
• Shelby County Sheriff's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw enforcement partner within CPIT. Their Pipes & Drums perform at the Children's Memorial Flagraising ceremony.
• Tennessee Department of Children's ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCS investigators work to strengthen families and protect kids from abuse and neglect. Many DCS staff members who specialize in child sexual or severe abuse investigations have office space at the Memphis CAC.
• U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of TennesseecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal prosecutorial partner within CPIT for cases involving federal jurisdiction.
• Donelson's CateringsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerApron Sponsor for the Annual Gala. Provides gourmet catering for the event.
• United Way MidsouthsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner organization listed on the website as a supporter of the Memphis CAC.
• National Children's AlliancecoreOthersNational governing body that provides accreditation for Children's Advocacy Centers. The Memphis CAC is an NCA Accredited Member.
• Porter-LeathsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvery Porter-Leath employee takes the Stewards of Children child sexual abuse prevention training.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Darkness to Light: Creator of the Stewards of Children prevention training curriculum that Memphis CAC delivers. Comparable as the originating national organization for the CAC's flagship prevention product.
• Children's Advocacy Centers of Tennessee: State chapter supporting Tennessee's network of CACs; provides training, advocacy, and coordination that directly affect Memphis CAC's operating environment and funding pathway.
• National Children's Alliance: The national accrediting body for Children's Advocacy Centers of which Memphis CAC is a member. Sets standards and supports the CAC network that Memphis CAC operates within.

Broad incumbents

• Cook Children's (Fort Worth): Pediatric health system with an integrated child abuse services program including the CARE Team, providing medical evaluations, forensic interviews, and therapy. Broader portfolio but overlapping child abuse response and prevention services.
• Childhelp: National organization operating the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, advocacy, and prevention education. Comparable in mission scope around child abuse intervention and prevention awareness.
• Prevent Child Abuse America: National nonprofit focused on child abuse prevention through advocacy, training, and parent support programs. Overlapping prevention and public education mission with Memphis CAC's Stewards of Children work.

Direct peers

• Dallas Children's Advocacy Center: Operates the same multi-agency Children's Advocacy Center model in Dallas County, providing forensic interviews, therapy, and prevention training for child abuse victims. Highly comparable in scope, service mix, and CPIT-equivalent structure.
• Harris County Children's Advocacy Center (Houston): Large Texas-based CAC providing forensic interviews, therapy, and prevention services via a coordinated multi-agency response model. Directly comparable mission, service suite, and multi-disciplinary team approach.
• Shelby County Crime Victims & Rape Crisis Center: Co-located CPIT partner providing forensic medical assessment, evidence collection, advocacy, and counseling at Memphis CAC's facility. Closest service-overlap peer, operating inside the same integrated response.

Regional players

• Hamilton County Child Advocacy Center (Chattanooga): Tennessee-based CAC serving a different region with a similar multi-disciplinary team approach, forensic interview, therapy, and prevention programs. Strong same-state functional comparable.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Memphis-Child-Advocacy-Center-111430995557783
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/memphis-child-advocacy-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/memphiscac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Memphis Child Advocacy Center