Just past downtown Rockwall is a quaint red-brick building with a blue door. From the outside, it appears to be a small space dedicated to the Children’s Advocacy Center for Rockwall County (CACRC), but once you enter, it’s clear that the space has been thoughtfully designed to help heal each person who steps inside. The CACRC serves a vital need for the local community; it’s a safe space centered around creating a calming atmosphere for children who are experiencing trauma.
A children’s advocacy center (CAC) is a nonprofit agency that coordinates a multidisciplinary response to child abuse. Centers like the CACRC offer healing services for victims of child abuse and their families through their advocacy and counseling programs and provide prevention education in the community.
Farrah Brabson, Director of Community Engagement and Training at CACRC, explains that while these centers serve a vital role in the community, they take time and intention to create. “You can't just open a CAC. You have to meet standards and be accredited through the National Children's Alliance and the state. But I feel like our center is different because it has more of a home feeling.”
When you enter the CACRC, it’s clear that each item has been purposefully chosen to ensure it creates a safe and positive atmosphere for children and families. From the colorful mural in the main activity room to the paper cranes leading the way to the interview space, each area feels comfortable and thoughtful.
Farrah invites everyone to get involved. “You’re able to help the Children's Advocacy Center through attending our events, sharing our social posts, and making sure that the education gets out there. The first step to prevent child abuse is awareness, and all of us can take a part in that.”
To learn more about, donate to, or get involved with the CACRC, visit their website at https://rockwallcac.org/
"I feel like our center is different because it has more of a home feeling.”