ABOUT

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

NameTitleEmailExtension
Aleigh AscherlExecutive Director[email protected]x110
Alexis DawkinsForensic Interviewer[email protected]x113
Amy DerrickCrisis Hotline Coordinator-Case Manager[email protected]x126
Arianna GainesPrevention Educator[email protected]x108
Ashley CassellCAC Intake Coordinator[email protected]x103
Bernie CanoClient Service Specialist[email protected]x100
Doug CumminsVictims Center Program Director[email protected]x116
Elsie NaruszewiczPrevention Educator[email protected]x108
Erika RodriguezLead Counselor – LPC[email protected]x213
Gracia MartinezFamily Advocate and Case Intake Specialist[email protected]x119
Heather KocianForensic Interviewer[email protected]x105
Heydi McKinneySenior Lead Bilingual Forensic Interviewer[email protected]x106
Jeimy TorresFamily Advocate[email protected]x127
Jennifer GettermanDevelopment Director[email protected]x130
Dr. Kerry BurkleyCAC Program Director[email protected]x101
Kiara HoraceFamily Advocate[email protected]x114
Kristen BradleyCounselor[email protected]x117
Kristi SkainsRural County Supervisor[email protected]
Kristin ArterburyCounselor[email protected]x120
Laura DowningLead Counselor – LCSW[email protected]x109
Lucero AguilarCounselor[email protected]x124
Melissa BuchananTraining and Outreach Specialist[email protected]x108
Melissa Mansolo-ByrdBilingual Family Advocate[email protected]x102
Meryl AndereggHealth Equity Programming Specialist[email protected]x108
Mickie DyeSexual Assault Forensic Examiner Coordinator[email protected]x123
Mónica DavilaPrevention Community Organizer[email protected]x108
Nicole VassilicoAdministrative and Operations Manager[email protected]x111
Sarah HoppingCase Management Supervisor[email protected]x121
Shannon YochamCounselor[email protected]x107
Dr. Soo BattleMedical Advisor/Pediatric Examiner[email protected]x104
Sue ArgabrightGrants and Staff Accountant[email protected]x112
Sydney LackeyCrisis Hotline Supervisor/Case Manager[email protected]x129
Teresa PerezBilingual Crisis Hotline Supervisor/Case Manager[email protected]x115
Yolanda ZunigaPrevention and Education Director[email protected]x118