Nonprofit of the Year Winner | Midsize: Child Advocacy Center Inc.

The Child Advocacy Center Inc. takes a multidisciplinary approach to child abuse investigations with a trauma-informed model that puts the child first during forensic interviews, advocacy, professional training and prevention outreach. The CAC is the only organization in its 14-county service area providing these services in partnership with more than 70 law enforcement, prosecutorial and child welfare agencies.

“We are working with a whole range of different agencies and partners who are engaged in these investigations,” Executive Director Katiina Dull says. “It really is this collaborative hub.”

The CAC employs 39 people with 100-140 volunteers throughout the year, operating on a $3.1 million budget in 2025. Since 1995, more than 26,000 children have received services at CAC – 1,657 in 2024 and more than 900 already this year. The children served often arrive feeling overwhelmed and hopeless, Dull says. One of the center’s greatest impacts is to help restore their autonomy. She recalled one feedback survey describing this shift.

“They felt so stripped of dignity and hope,” she says, “but the quality of care that they received and the service and the kindness they were shown throughout their time at the center meant that, when they left, they had a sense of dignity restored and a sense of hope restored.”

Last year, 15,489 individuals received prevention training and education through numerous programs. Outreach begins with adults and children in the community and extends to teaching trauma-informed practices to prosecutors and law enforcement and educating mandated reporters such as health professionals and elected officials, school boards and other leaders who are in positions to protect children. CAC also partners with 31 school districts to provide education in the classroom.

“Prevention work is all about system change,” Dull says. “It’s going to take multiple generations before we really see those numbers come down in any big way.”

CAC operates out of its main center in Springfield and a second location in West Plains. To accommodate additional services, increase interview rooms and reduce wait times from 10 to three days, CAC is moving to a larger Springfield facility this year. It also plans to add mental health services, an anti-trafficking unit and conduct child abuse studies.