CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS OF TEXAS

What CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS OF TEXAS does

Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas (CACTX) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit statewide membership association founded in 1990 and headquartered in Austin, Texas. It orchestrates the state's response to crimes against children by coordinating a network of 70+ independent local children's advocacy centers that together serve 97.6% of Texas counties. In FY2023 the network stewarded a record $82.2 million in state and federal public funding and provided services to over 62,785 children between September 2024 and August 2025, including 40,109 forensic interviews, 8,340 specialized medical evaluations, and 25,138 mental health service engagements.

The organization's core "products" are programmatic rather than software: a Justice and Healing service line delivering forensic interviews, evidence-based mental health therapy, and multidisciplinary team coordination; a primary prevention line delivering community education, the PSB Toolkit, and a multi-year public will-building campaign developed with the Metropolitan Group; and operational programs including the Regional Support Initiative (launched September 2023) and the Regional Crimes Against Children Task Force rural law-enforcement pilot. Underlying technology is operational rather than proprietary - Neon CRM for donor management, statewide case management and data collection systems, HIPAA-grade privacy/security controls, and standard cloud infrastructure - with no disclosed AI/ML components. CACTX's business model mixes managed stewardship of public funds flowing to network CACs with diversified private philanthropy via individual donations, Founders Circle ($5,000/year minimum) and Women of Courage ($1,000/year minimum) giving circles, corporate and workplace giving, planned/legacy gifts, donor-advised funds, and foundation grants (Meadows Foundation, T.L.L. Temple Foundation, Carol A. Buch Foundation). All service delivery to beneficiaries occurs through member CACs and their multidisciplinary teams rather than through CACTX directly.

Name

CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS OF TEXAS

Legal name

Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas, Inc.

Website

https://cactx.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas is a 501(c)(3) statewide membership association coordinating 70+ local children's advocacy centers that provide multidisciplinary forensic, medical, and mental health response to over 60,000 child abuse victims annually across Texas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Advocacy and Victim Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Individual and Family Services (6241), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG)

Keywords

• Child advocacy services
• Nonprofit coordination
• Victim support programs
• Abuse prevention education
• Mental health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters via online portal, phone, or check. Includes monthly, quarterly, and annual giving options.
2. Membership Giving Circles: Structured giving programs including Founders Circle (minimum $5,000/year) and Women of Courage (minimum $1,000/year), offering exclusive member benefits and recurring revenue through sustaining donations.
3. Public/Government Funding: CACTX stewards over $80 million in annual public funds (state and federal) distributed to the statewide CAC network. Includes $82.2 million in annual state and federal funding secured for the network, and $1 million new state funds for a regional CAC support pilot program.
4. Corporate Giving: Corporate partners provide essential resources through sponsorships, workplace giving campaigns, and stock donations to support statewide efforts to protect children.
5. Planned/Legacy Giving: Planned gifts from estates including bequests, insurance gifts, retirement account beneficiaries, and charitable remainder trusts.
6. Donor-Advised Funds: DAF grant distributions from donors' philanthropic accounts, providing an immediate tax benefit to donors while directing funds to CACTX.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CACTX coordinates a statewide network of 70+ local children's advocacy centers (CACs) that provide multidisciplinary team (MDT) responses — including forensic interviews, specialized medical evaluations, evidence-based mental health therapy, case management, and family advocacy — to child victims of abuse and crime in Texas. The organization also leads primary prevention initiatives to end child sexual abuse through awareness campaigns, community education, and policy advocacy. CACTX stewards over $80 million in annual public funds and supports more than 60,000 children annually.

Product overview

Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas (CACTX) operates as a statewide membership association coordinating a network of local children's advocacy centers (CACs), not a single unified software product. The organization provides advocacy services and programs including: the core CACs Network delivering multidisciplinary response to child victims; Justice & Healing Services for case coordination and victim support; Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs; the Regional Support Initiative providing strategic network guidance; the Regional Crimes Against Children Task Force pilot program for rural law enforcement support; a PSB Toolkit for handling problematic sexual behavior cases; a Public Will Building Initiative in partnership with Metropolitan Group; Community & Educational Resources for parents and educators; and donor programs (Founders Circle and Women of Courage).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) Network A statewide network of 70+ local children's advocacy centers providing coordinated, child-centered MDT response to crimes against children — including forensic interviews, medical evaluations, mental health services, and case coordination. Children and families access services through local CACs across Texas.
• Justice and Healing Services Coordinated care, case management, and victim support services helping children and families find justice and begin healing paths following abuse or victimization. Includes forensic interviews, specialized medical evaluations, evidence-based mental health services (individual and family counseling), case review, and MDT coordination.
• Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs Awareness campaigns, community education, and prevention initiatives equipping Texans to recognize, report, and act to stop child sexual abuse before it occurs. Includes adult training, child-centered resources, and the Public Will Building Initiative.
• Regional Support Initiative A pilot program providing strategic and targeted support to the CAC network through Regional Principals who liaison between CACs and CACTX, providing guidance, resources, and trend analysis.
• Regional Crimes Against Children Task Force (RCACTF) A pilot program in Henderson County where specially trained investigators handle child maltreatment cases across multiple law enforcement agencies, streamlining investigations and providing coordinated multidisciplinary response through the local CAC. Demonstrated results include reducing investigative time from 137 days to 47 days and 90% of child victims receiving recommended CAC services.
• Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB) Toolkit Best practice recommendations for multidisciplinary teams on screening, assessment, treatment, case triage, and alternatives to traditional prosecution for cases involving children with problematic sexual behavior. Developed in partnership with Dr. Caitlyn Muniz at the University of Texas at El Paso.
• Community and Educational Resources Educational materials including Quick Tips for Parents (preventing child sexual abuse), Signs of Abuse flyers, and Educators Guide for Texas school employees on reporting suspected abuse.
• Founders Circle Giving Program A philanthropic giving circle requiring a minimum $5,000 annual contribution, offering exclusive events, insider updates, and recognition for supporters dedicated to ending child sexual abuse.
• Women of Courage Giving Program A women's giving circle requiring a minimum $1,000 annual contribution, providing vital financial support to strengthen coordination between CACTX and statewide partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97.6% of Texans live in a county served by a local CAC
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Metropolitan GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCACTX partnered with Metropolitan Group (MG), a renowned social change agency, to develop a multi-year strategic communications plan for public will building to end child sexual abuse in Texas. MG is known for its public will-building model and expertise in crafting strategic and creative campaigns. The partnership included an external landscape assessment, key informational interviews, a statewide survey, in-person focus groups, and development of prevention messaging strategies.
• The University of Texas at El Paso (Dr. Caitlyn Muniz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCACTX collaborated with Dr. Caitlyn Muniz from The University of Texas at El Paso to conduct a mixed-methods study on how PSB (Problematic Sexual Behavior) cases are handled across Texas, including one-on-one interviews with CAC staff, focus groups with MDT members, and a survey of 350 MDT professionals. This research informed the development of the PSB Toolkit.
• National Children's AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCACTX is an Accredited Chapter of the National Children's Alliance, which sets national standards for CACs. The alliance provides accreditation, training resources, and a unified voice for children's advocacy centers nationwide.
• OpEd Project and Oak FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCACTX CEO Joy Rauls was selected as one of 20 distinguished fellows from around the world for the OpEd Project and Oak Foundation's Public Voices Fellowship, supporting public awareness efforts on ending child sexual abuse.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Childhelp: National nonprofit serving victims of child abuse through prevention, treatment, and advocacy including a national hotline and residential programs. Comparable operating model combining direct services with public awareness and policy advocacy.
• Darkness to Light: National nonprofit dedicated to child sexual abuse prevention through adult training and education programs. Directly comparable to CACTX's Ending Child Sexual Abuse program area and prevention-focused strategic communications.
• Texas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates): Texas-based statewide nonprofit advocating for abused and neglected children through volunteer advocates in the court system. Operates a similar statewide network model in Texas for child welfare, making it a direct parallel to CACTX's coordinating function.

Broad incumbents

• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: National nonprofit focused on child victimization including exploitation and abduction, operating a national hotline and resource network. Comparable in mission overlap on crimes against children and federal grant-funded operations.
• National Children's Alliance: National accrediting body and umbrella organization for children's advocacy centers across the U.S. CACTX is an Accredited Chapter of NCA, making NCA its most direct institutional peer and federal grant conduit.
• Prevent Child Abuse America: National nonprofit focused on preventing child abuse and neglect through public awareness, advocacy, and state chapter network. Overlaps with CACTX's prevention mission and operates state chapters in a structurally similar way.
• Children's Defense Fund: National child advocacy organization operating across child welfare, education, and health with significant federal policy focus. Comparable in advocacy intensity and legislative engagement model, though national rather than statewide scope.

Others

• Houston Endowment: Major Texas-based foundation funding child welfare, education, and community initiatives. Acts as a comparable ecosystem participant and potential funding counterpart to the foundations that support CACTX (Meadows Foundation, T.L.L. Temple Foundation).

Regional players

• Texas Council on Family Violence: Texas statewide coalition addressing domestic violence with a parallel network model of local service providers and statewide coordination/advocacy function. Closely comparable in operating model and Texas-specific scope, though focused on adult victims.
• Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS): Texas statewide nonprofit membership association supporting organizations serving youth experiencing homelessness, exploitation, and crisis. Directly comparable in operating structure as a Texas-based statewide coordinating association for youth-serving nonprofits.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS OF TEXAS