 How many children does the Center serve a year? Where is the Center located and what areas do you serve? Will children be housed at the Center? Do children seen at the Center always enter foster care? Does the Children's Advocacy Center continue to need funding? 
Q. How many children does the Center serve a year? A. The Center typically provides services to between 350-400 children per year. In 2009, we served 462 children and their families.
Q. Where is the Center located? A. Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners donated 1.4 acres of commercially zoned property on McEwen Drive in Niceville. The Center is in a residential area located behind the Niceville Chamber of Commerce, one block off John Sims Parkway. The physical address is: 401 McEwen Drive, Niceville, FL 32578. We serve families located in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. This includes Niceville, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Shalimar, Mary Esther, Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, Destin, Freeport and the surrounding areas.
Q. What services are provided at the Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center and is there a charge for providing them to victims? A. The Children's Advocacy Center employs three Licensed Mental Health Therapists who provide counseling for victims of sexual and physical abuse and their families. Since 2004, over 10,000 therapy session have been provided to our victims and their families. The Agency Partners in the Center provide valuable medical exams and forensic interviews for use during prosecution of offenders. Victims and their families are never charged for services at the Center.
Q. Will children sleep there or be housed overnight? A. No. This is NOT an overnight shelter or residence for anyone. The Children's Advocacy Center is a professional office complex designed to be child friendly in its design and operation. The occupants are working professionals that deal with abused children. Typically, our children are able to stay with non-offending family members. Fewer than ten percent of our kids enter the foster care system or require emergency shelter.
Q. Do children seen at the Center always enter foster care? A. No. Most children seen at the Center remain with their non-offending family members. Only a small percentage (5-10%) are placed in the foster care system.
Q. Does the Children's Advocacy Center continue to need funding? A. Yes. The Children's Advocacy Center will always look to the community for the majority of its financial support. Proceeds from special events support the general operating fund and an ongoing Endowment campaign serves to provide for the Center's future.
Q. I love your logo and would love to get a shirt, hat or something else with your logo on it. Where can I purchase logoed items? A. We have an online store at www.cafepress.com/eccac. At the store you will find, shirts, hats, bags, stadium blankets...even a laptop skin and Christmas stocking. All proceeds from the sales of these items benefits the Center. We encourage all of our volunteers to sport their new gear the next time they volunteer! |
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