Historic First: Fort Cavazos Launches Groundbreaking Children’s Advocacy Center for Military Families
Military families at Fort Cavazos gain unprecedented access to specialized child advocacy, mental health, and trauma support services.
- 1st Children’s Advocacy Center on a U.S. military installation
- 10,000+ children and families served since 1997
- 3 counties supported: Bell, Coryell, and Milam
- 2025’s top trend: Military-focused family mental health initiatives
Families at Fort Cavazos are celebrating a milestone that’s set to reshape military community support nationwide. The Children’s Advocacy Center of Central Texas (CACCT) has just cut the ribbon on a pioneering satellite office right on post—making it the very first Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) to be located on any U.S. military base.
A Partnership with National Impact
This innovative facility, the result of a close partnership between the CACCT, the Office of Special Trial Counsel, and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, is taking bold steps to protect the installation’s most vulnerable residents: children.
With a foundation laid in April 2023, this collaborative effort is already being touted as a model for military bases across the country. Advocates stress that when the wellbeing of children and families is prioritized, troop readiness and mission success follow naturally.
A New Chapter in Child Support
The new center is more than just a safe space. It offers a multidisciplinary team—combining law enforcement, child protection, mental health, medical, and legal professionals—all working under one roof to support young victims in a “child-friendly” setting.
Through expertly conducted forensic interviews, staff document cases in ways that empower children to share their stories, ensuring the best chance for justice and healing. Family advocacy services offer vital resources and emotional support, recognizing that family recovery is just as important as the child’s individual healing.
Military Families Gain Easy Access to Critical Help
Previously, military families often had to travel off-post in search of essential support—a tall order for many. Now, the CACCT’s on-site presence means therapy, forensic interviews, and advocacy services are available just steps from home base. Experts say this will help break down traditional barriers to care, encourage early reporting, and reduce the trauma associated with seeking help.
Related: Discover more about child advocacy nationwide at the National Children’s Advocacy Center and military family support at the U.S. Army’s official site.
Q&A: Why Is This Center So Groundbreaking?
Q: What makes this new office at Fort Cavazos special for 2025?
A: It’s the first of its kind, bringing coordinated, trauma-informed child advocacy to military families—right where they live and work. Experts see it as a blueprint for military communities across the U.S., especially as family-centered mental health support surges as a top trend for 2025.
How Does the Advocacy Center Help Children and Families?
- Children undergo forensic interviews in a supportive, neutral environment
- Families receive advocacy services, resource referrals, and crisis support
- On-site therapy and mental health care for both children and parents
- Collaboration with Army prosecutors to ensure offenders are held accountable
How Can Military Communities Replicate This Success?
This bold step at Fort Cavazos is shining a light on the importance of proactive, localized support for military children facing trauma. Community leaders are encouraged to:
- Partner with local advocacy centers
- Engage multidisciplinary teams
- Promote easy access to therapy and victim support
For further insights on child well-being, visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway.
Checklist: What Families Need to Know Next
- Know where the new center is located on your installation
- Reach out early if you or someone you know needs help
- Learn about available resources for both children and adults
- Join awareness and outreach activities throughout 2025
- Share this critical information with fellow military families
https://youtube.com/watch?v=SqUOXoSBQ0c
Military families: Step forward, spread the word, and use these groundbreaking resources to help keep your children safe and your community resilient!
