At the Texarkana Children's Advocacy Center (TCAC) our goal is to reduce the impact of trauma.  At TCAC we provide advocacy, medical and mental health services for the children and their families that come into our center, and facilitate the prosecution of offenders by working together through a multidisciplinary team approach.  TCAC coordinates the efforts of law enforcement agencies, Department of Family & Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Department of Human Services, criminal prosecutors, therapists, and victim advocates in a child-friendly environment in order to give these children a voice while advocating for hope, healing, and justice.

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After a child is referred to TCAC by law enforcement or Child Protective Services, A TCAC forensic interviewer is professionally trained to listen to the child's story and asks non-leading questions that are developmentally-appropriate and legally-defensible as the child talks about the trauma he/she has experienced.  During the forensic interview, law enforcement and CPS investigators watch the interview live from a separate observation room in our facility.

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During the forensic interview, one of our family advocates will meet the non-offending caregivers to collect information, discuss our center and services, provide resources such as therapy, financial assistance, information about child abuse signs/symptoms and explain the investigative and legal process.

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Our mental health professionals use Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) with the children and non-offending caregivers following their initial forensic interview at the center.

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Medical treatment is also provided through a Sexual Assault Nurse Examination (SANE) performed by a qualified and trained nurse at our facility.