The Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center is a not-for-profit agency that, along with our partner agencies, provides services in Okaloosa and Walton Counties which prevent child abuse, reduce the trauma of sexual and physical abuse, protect and treat child abuse victims and their families while holding offenders accountable, restore the lives and futures of abused, neglected, and drug-endangered children and their families.
The guiding principles of the organization inlcude:
To bring together and facilitate the work of professionals from our partner agencies: the State Attorney’s Office, the Child Protection Team, the Florida Department of Children and Families and area law enforcement agencies under one roof in a child-friendly environment
To provide intervention and therapeutic treatment services at no charge to child victims of abuse and their families
To offer child abuse prevention education and training in Okaloosa and Walton Counties
To connect children and families traumatized by abuse with needed community resources
Our services include:
A child friendly atmosphere for recording interviews, on-site medical evaluations and assessments, utilizing “state of the art” technology
Coordination and facilitation of investigative, legal, social, medical and mental health services through a model “team” approach
Multi-disciplinary team (law enforcement, prosecution, mental health, social services, child protection team) case reviews and case tracking through the Center’s case advocate program
Mental Health services – full-time licensed mental health therapists help reduce trauma of abused children and help restore lost childhoods
Community resources for information, referral and hel
Professional training and educational presentations at the community, state, and national leve
Darkness to Light child sexual abuse prevention program targeted at organizations working with children to include churches and daycares
Family services fund for immediate critical needs of children and families.