The Center for Child Protection
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“Volunteers are critical to creating stronger safety nets for our communities most vulnerable citizens, our children. The Center is the community’s response to improve and coordinate care for children thereby breaking destructive, generational cycles of abuse. The diversity of volunteer roles available allows listeners to choose a role that fits their talents, interests, and schedule whether working directly with children and families or performing other critical services that support the Center’s mission. The Center is growing to meet the demand for services and will break ground on a new building in May that will provide even more comprehensive services, including more space for interviews and collaborating agencies, therapy space, a new medical wing, and a “resource closet.” As we come closer to our vision to serve even more children in our new space, our need for volunteers will continue to grow.”
Center for Child Protection Mission:
Founded in 1989, the Center for Child Protection, an accredited Children’s Advocacy Center, is the first stop for children entering the justice system because of suspected sexual abuse, for serious physical abuse, and for children who have witnessed a violent crime. The Center is a child-friendly, specially-equipped facility in Travis County where children and their protective family or caregiver go for evidence gathering, forensic medical exams, counseling and intervention during the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases. Referrals are made exclusively through law enforcement and Child Protective Services, and all services are provided at no charge. The Center’s mission is to reduce the trauma for children during the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases.
Major Activities and Services:
When a community of caring volunteers gets involved in helping children, they support vulnerable young children who have been abused so that they may begin the journey of recovery. Through the Center’s services, the most powerless members of our community will have the opportunity to have their shattered bodies and spirits restored, find justice and grow into healthy, productive adults. The Center provides the following services:
- Coordinated investigations with the Child Protection Team
- Child-centered forensic interviews in a home-like environment
- Forensic medical exams
- Crisis intervention, counseling and group therapy for adults, children and families
- Emergency funding for family preservation needs
- Assessment, case management, and follow up
- Court School
- Parenting Classes
- Research and evaluation of demographics and case outcome information
- Training and education of CPT members and the community
- Community outreach
*Child Protection Team includes the Center for Child Protection, Child Protective Services, Travis County District Attorney’s Office, Children’s Hospital of Austin, Austin Police Department, Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Austin Independent School District Police Department, Pflugerville Police Department, Jonestown Police Department, Lakeway Police Department, Cedar Park Police Department, Leander Police Department, Sunset Valley Police Department, Lago Vista Police Department, Manor Police Department, Rollingwood Police Department, West Lake Hills Police Department, and Mustang Ridge Police Department.
Volunteer Opportunities:
All volunteers interested in working directly with the children and families are required to complete an application, records check and interview prior to attending training. We specialize in matching a volunteer’s interest and talents with opportunities building a long-lasting volunteer relationship.
Child & Family Crisis Support Specialists: provide a support system for the child and family during the child abuse investigation process, Monday Friday during regular business hours.
Graduate & Undergraduate Interns: participate in a variety of program tasks and responsibilities from direct clinical service to outreach, marketing and administrative support activities.
Court School Volunteers: help educate children and their families about the court process, one Monday evening a month.
Medical Exam Volunteers: ease a child’s and parent’s fear and provide assistance to the pediatrician during forensic medical exams, Wednesday afternoons.
Child/Parent Support Group Volunteers: co-facilitate group sessions or provide child care for the siblings in the family, Wednesday evenings.
Parent Education Group Volunteers: co-facilitate group sessions or provide child care for siblings in the family, Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings.
Volunteer Shoppers: shop for supplies needed by families in crisis and sort items and donations for distribution.
Event Volunteers: participate in the Center’s fundraisers to raise awareness and resources for children in need. Activities can include decorations, set up, registration, graphic design, sponsorship solicitation, and more.
Public Awareness Volunteers: participate in specialized speaker’s training and seek out opportunities to share the Center’s work with community organizations.
Administrative Volunteers: assist with a wide variety of tasks including case tracking, mailing, data entry, copies, filing, scanning pictures, and related tasks.
General Maintenance Volunteers: assist with the upkeep and appearance of the Center’s interior by making minor repairs. Also help with landscaping and maintenance of the grounds, flexible hours, evenings and weekends available.
Contact Information:
Sarah Richards (Volunteer Coordinator) – srichards@centerforchildprotection.org
Amy Carr (Marketing Manager) – acarr@centerforchildprotection.org
Phone: 512.472.1164
FAX: 512.472.1167
1110 East 32nd Street
Austin, Texas 78722
For More Information about the Center for Child Protection, visit their website at www.centerforchildprotection.org/.
