What is Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas (CACar)?

CACar is a coordinated statewide thought leader in data-driven, evidence-based and collaborative efforts to respond to and raise awareness about child abuse. We promote, assist and support the development, growth and continuation of the 18 child advocacy centers (CACs) and first-response multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) across Arkansas, so that every child victim has access to critical services and compassionate care.

Support Our Mission

The Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas (CACar) stands united in the fight to protect Arkansas children from abuse and neglect. We strengthen and sustain the state’s network of child advocacy centers (CACs) and multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) — the frontline defenders who bring care, justice and restoration to children in crisis.

Our mission comes to life through these key efforts:

Empowering Local Centers: Helping every CAC in Arkansas grow, thrive and continue providing child-centered care and advocacy.

Supporting First Responders: Equipping MDTs across the state, the first line of response to child maltreatment, with the resources, training and tools they need to act swiftly and effectively.

Driving Systemic Change: Advancing policies, partnerships and advocacy initiatives that strengthen protections for abused and neglected children.

Educating and Engaging Communities: Leading statewide awareness campaigns that champion collaboration, prevention and early intervention.

Building Capacity and Quality: Sharing expertise, research and best practices that raise the standard of care across every CAC and ensure long-term program sustainability.

Expanding Resources: Identifying and coordinating funding opportunities to support local CACs and MDTs strengthening communities throughout the state.

25+Years of Child Advocacy in Arkansas

CACar is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to sustaining and expanding local child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams across the state.

Since 1999, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas has grown from three to 18 CACs, plus 14 additional locations, serving all 75 Arkansas counties. More than 1,350 experts make up 64 multidisciplinary teams working across the state.

Who CACar Supports

Children

Everything we do is for the purpose of protecting Arkansas children from abuse and neglect as well as helping victims and families to heal and thrive.

MDTs

We support the more than 1,350 child abuse response professionals who make up local multidisciplinary teams and are the frontline of Arkansas’ child abuse response.

CACs

Child advocacy centers are where the healing actually happens, and keeping these locations in operation is core to Arkansas’ child abuse response.

Legislators

Child abuse is a policy issue as well, and we support legislators with accurate child abuse statistics and decades of experience.

Our CACar Staff

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas employs a full-time staff who lead new initiatives, manage existing programs and oversee day-to-day operations.