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.

2023-2024 ADVOCACY CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President
Dr. Kristy Donaldson

Vice President
Lindsay Bawduniak

Treasurer
Tammy Harralson

Secretary
Michaela (Miki) Alvarado

Lacy Brejcha

Bricker Bruner

Rachael Fineske

Briana Gongora

Dr. Shannon Hankhouse

Sarah Hopkins-McCormack

Kristin Kaye

Joseph Scaramucci

Josh Tetens

Jared Wallace

OUR STAFF

NameTitleEmailExtension
Aleigh AscherlExecutive Directoraascherl@advocacycntr.orgx110
Alexis DawkinsForensic Intervieweradawkins@advocacycntr.orgx113
Amy DerrickCrisis Hotline Coordinator-Case Manageraderrick@advocacycntr.orgx126
Arianna GainesPrevention Educatoragaines@advocacycntr.orgx108
Ashley CassellCAC Intake Specialistacassell@advocacycntr.orgx103
Bernie CanoClient Service Specialistbcano@advocacycntr.orgx100
Doug CumminsVictims Center Program Directordcummins@advocacycntr.orgx116
Elsie NaruszewiczPrevention Educatorenaruszewicz@advocacycntr.org
Erika RodriguezCounselorerodriguez@adovcacycntr.orgx213
Gracia MartinezFamily Advocate and Case Intake Specialistgmartinez@advocacycntr.orgx119
Heather FillmoreForensic Interviewerhfillmore@advocacycntr.orgx105
Heydi McKinneyBilingual Forensic Interviewerhmckinney@advocacycntr.orgx106
Jennifer JimenezRural CAC Client Services Specialistjjimenez@advocacycntr.org
Dr. Kerry BurkleyCAC Program Directorkburkley@advocacycntr.orgx101
Kristen BradleyCounselorkbradley@advocacycntr.orgx117
Kristi SkainsForensic Interviewerkskains@advocacycntr.org
Kristin ArterburyCounselorkarterbury@advocacycntr.orgx120
Kyla WilsonPrevention and Education Directorkwilson@advocacycntr.orgx118
Laura DowningCase Manager / Counselorldowning@advocacycntr.orgx109
Lucero AguilarCounselorlaguilar@advocacycntr.orgx124
Melissa BuchananTraining and Outreach Specialistmbuchanan@advocacycntr.org
Melissa Mansolo-ByrdBilingual Family AdvocateMMansolo-Byrd@advocacycntr.org
Mickie DyeSexual Assault Forensic Examiner Coordinatormdye@advocacycntr.org
Mónica DavilaPrevention Community Organizermdavila@advocacycntr.orgx108
Nicole VassilicoAdministrative and Operations Manageradminsupport@advocacycntr.orgx111
Patsy BucknerFamily Advocatepbuckner@advocacycntr.orgx114
Samantha SimpsonCounselorssimpson@advocacycntr.orgx128
Sarah HoppingCase Manger/CSEY Care Coordinatorshopping@advocacycntr.orgx121
Shannon YochamCounselorsyocham@advocacycntr.orgx107
Dr. Soo BattleMedical Advisor/Pediatric Examinersbattle@advocacycntr.orgx104
Sue ArgabrightGrants and Staff Accountantsargabright@advocacycntr.orgx112
Sydney LackeyCrisis Hotline Supervisor/Case Managerslackey@advocacycntr.orgx129
Teresa PerezBilingual Crisis Hotline Supervisor/Case Managertperez@advocacycntr.orgx115