Many people are hurting because of an act of violence committed against them. Anyone – men, women, and children may be affected by violence. Our children are subjected to neglect, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Research shows as many as 1 in 4 girls will be victims of sexual abuse by the time they are 18-years-old. For boys, the number is 1 in 6. Often the abuse is a “family secret” passed from one generation to another.
There is hope and restoration at the Advocacy Center.The Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children began in 1976 as the Waco Rape Crisis Center. It has grown into an umbrella agency with three programs, the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC),
The Victims Center, and Prevention and Education – offering many services to the hurting in our community.
Over the past year the Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children has:
89 FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS and 566 FORENSIC INTERVIEWS provided
at the Center of children 17 and under that have made an outcry of abuse, if abuse is
suspected or if the child has witnessed a crime.
53 NON-OFFENDING PARENTS attended Family Forward and Learning initiatives
Following Trauma groups. This number is lower than usual due to COVID-19.
695 RESPONSES to the 24/7 crisis hotline for survivors of sexual assault and other violence crimes.
210 OF THE 695 crisis hotline calls resulted in Advocates going to Waco hospitals, of
which . . .
159 FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS were performed by a Sexual Assault Forensic
Examiner.
1,134 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY VICTIMS OF CRIME received direct counseling
and advocacy services.
102 PREVENTION RELATED PROGRAMS were presented by Prevention and Education
staff to 646 ATTENDEES.
435 MEDIA POSTS with 94,481 VIEWS/ENGAGEMENTS. Staff began a
podcast, provided both virtual and physical resources for families, provided book and movie
discussion materials around various topics and created videos that have over 1,200 views.
2025-2026 ADVOCACY CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Tammy Harralson
Julie Branch
Vice President
Briana Gongora
Treasurer
Shanta Williams
Secretary
Grant Hayes
Lacy Brejcha
Rachael Fineske
Angie Greak Chase
Kristin Justus
Joseph Scaramucci
Josh Tetens
Jared Wallace
OUR STAFF
| Name | Title | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aleigh Ascherl | Executive Director | [email protected] | x110 |
| Alexis Dawkins | Forensic Interviewer | [email protected] | x113 |
| Amy Derrick | Crisis Hotline Coordinator-Case Manager | [email protected] | x126 |
| Arianna Gaines | Prevention Educator | [email protected] | x108 |
| Ashley Cassell | CAC Intake Coordinator | [email protected] | x103 |
| Bernie Cano | Client Service Specialist | [email protected] | x100 |
| Doug Cummins | Victims Center Program Director | [email protected] | x116 |
| Elsie Naruszewicz | Prevention Educator | [email protected] | x108 |
| Erika Rodriguez | Lead Counselor – LPC | [email protected] | x213 |
| Gracia Martinez | Family Advocate and Case Intake Specialist | [email protected] | x119 |
| Heather Kocian | Forensic Interviewer | [email protected] | x105 |
| Heydi McKinney | Senior Lead Bilingual Forensic Interviewer | [email protected] | x106 |
| Jeimy Torres | Family Advocate | [email protected] | x127 |
| Jennifer Getterman | Development Director | [email protected] | x130 |
| Dr. Kerry Burkley | CAC Program Director | [email protected] | x101 |
| Kiara Horace | Family Advocate | [email protected] | x114 |
| Kristen Bradley | Counselor | [email protected] | x117 |
| Kristi Skains | Rural County Supervisor | [email protected] | — |
| Kristin Arterbury | Counselor | [email protected] | x120 |
| Laura Downing | Lead Counselor – LCSW | [email protected] | x109 |
| Lucero Aguilar | Counselor | [email protected] | x124 |
| Melissa Buchanan | Training and Outreach Specialist | [email protected] | x108 |
| Melissa Mansolo-Byrd | Bilingual Family Advocate | [email protected] | x102 |
| Meryl Anderegg | Health Equity Programming Specialist | [email protected] | x108 |
| Mickie Dye | Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Coordinator | [email protected] | x123 |
| Mónica Davila | Prevention Community Organizer | [email protected] | x108 |
| Nicole Vassilico | Administrative and Operations Manager | [email protected] | x111 |
| Sarah Hopping | Case Management Supervisor | [email protected] | x121 |
| Shannon Yocham | Counselor | [email protected] | x107 |
| Dr. Soo Battle | Medical Advisor/Pediatric Examiner | [email protected] | x104 |
| Sue Argabright | Grants and Staff Accountant | [email protected] | x112 |
| Sydney Lackey | Crisis Hotline Supervisor/Case Manager | [email protected] | x129 |
| Teresa Perez | Bilingual Crisis Hotline Supervisor/Case Manager | [email protected] | x115 |
| Yolanda Zuniga | Prevention and Education Director | [email protected] | x118 |