Who We Are

How We Got Started

In 1979, the Midland Rape Crisis Center began providing services to survivors of sexual assault. The sexual assault hotline was the product of a group of individuals and law enforcement representatives who were concerned about rape and the lasting effects it has on survivors.

In September 1996, the Center proudly added the Children’s Advocacy Center program. The Children’s Advocacy Center program was established in an effort to enhance the sensitivity and responsiveness of the criminal and civil justice systems to victims of child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse. The Center added a satellite office in Andrews County in 2007 and in Howard County in 2018.

Where We Are Now

The agency is now known as the Midland Rape Crisis and Children’s Advocacy Center. The Center has expanded its comprehensive services to help adult survivors of sexual assault, child survivors of abuse, whether that be physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect, child survivors of sex trafficking, and child survivors of homicide victims. The Center’s services are offered at no cost.

The Center is now comprised of numerous programs:

  • 24/7 Sexual Assault Hotline

  • Education

  • Forensic Interview

  • Family Advocacy

  • Adult Advocacy

  • Therapy

  • Volunteer

The Center’s programs are funded by federal and state grants, the United Way of Midland, grants from local foundations, agency fundraisers, and private contributions.

Our Services

  • The Midland Rape Crisis and Children’s Advocacy Center advocates on behalf of its clients in a variety of ways including but not limited to:

    • Assisting with Crime Victim’s Compensation

    • Acting as the liaison between victims and the investigative agencies or the judicial system

    • Providing accompaniment to medical exams

    • Providing accompaniment to prosecutor’s offices and judicial proceedings

    • Providing referrals to community resources

  • The Children’s Advocacy Center program was established in Midland County in 1996 in an effort to protect the best interests of child victims of sexual abuse and/or severe physical abuse as their cases proceed through the investigation and prosecution stages and beyond.

    Multi-Disciplinary Team

    The Midland Children’s Advocacy Center supports and coordinates the efforts of the Midland, Howard, and Andrews County Multi-Disciplinary Teams of professionals consisting of:

    • The Police Department

    • Child Protective Services

    • The County Sheriff’s Office

    • Local Hospitals

    • The District Attorney’s Office

    The Multi-Disciplinary Team Collaborates to:

    • Coordinate investigations

    • Limit, when possible, the number of times a child is interviewed

    • Provide a child-friendly atmosphere for interviews

    • Reduce the child victim’s travel to investigative agencies

    • Coordinate medical and mental health services

    • Increase public awareness of child abuse

  • 24-Hour Sexual Assault Hotline

    Our 24-Hour Sexual Assault Hotline connects callers to a trained staff member or volunteer who can provide a listening ear, information on reporting sexual assault, and a list of the services offered by the center.

    Hospital Accompaniment

    Staff and trained volunteers are available 24 hours a day to meet survivors of sexual assault at Midland Memorial Hospital and support them through their sexual assault forensic exam (SAFE) by providing on-site advocacy and resources.

    Soft Interview Room

    The soft interview room is designed to help survivors feel safe while recounting their experience to law enforcement.

  • The Education Department is dedicated to empowering children, families, and communities with the knowledge and tools to recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse. Our mission is to prevent abuse by equipping children, educators, parents, and community members with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify, respond to, and report suspected abuse. Through age-appropriate school programs, professional training, and community outreach, we work to build safe, supportive environments that foster the health, safety, and well-being of all children. For more information on what free educational services we provide, please email education@mrccac.org.

  • MRCCAC has several therapy programs available to survivors of abuse and/or trauma. These supportive programs are designed for adult survivors of sexual assault or history of child sexual abuse, kids/teens who have participated in a forensic interview, non-offending parents/caregivers who had a minor receive a forensic interview, and youth survivors of commercial sexual exploitation. Licensed Mental Health Professionals are available to provide therapy services free of charge for all of these programs in support of our mission statement to help survivors in their healing journey and promote hope. Therapy services include individual therapy, group therapy, case coordination, case consultation, and collaboration with family members to reach the survivor's treatment goals.

 FAQs

  • A SAFE is a medical examination that is performed on a person who has experienced sexual assault, with the goal of gathering evidence for legal purposes, as well as addressing the person’s medical and emotional needs.

  • A forensic interview is a structured conversation conducted with a child who may have witnessed or been involved in a crime, such as sexual assault or abuse. The goal of the forensic interview is to gather accurate, reliable, and detailed information about the alleged incident in a way that minimizes stress and trauma for the person being interviewed.

    Forensic interviews are typically used in legal or criminal investigations, and they play a critical role in building a case or determining whether there is enough evidence for further action. The interviews are conducted by our specially trained forensic interviewers who use techniques that ensure the person feels safe and comfortable while providing their account.

  • The acronym MDT stands for multi-disciplinary team. Our multi-disciplinary team consists of members from the various agencies we partner with such as law enforcement, the department of family and protective services, the juvenile probation office, the district attorney’s office, Voice of Hope, and SAFE nurses. Our multi-disciplinary team meets bi-weekly in Midland and monthly in Andrews and Howard County to discuss ongoing cases and coordinate the best way to help the kids who come through the center.

  • The Being Safe Program is the child abuse prevention program we offer free of charge to all schools, daycare facilities, and faith-based organizations. Pre-K through 6th grade students learn about body safety, i.e. what a safe touch, unsafe touch (physical abuse), and confusing touch (sexual abuse) is. 7th and 8th graders learn about online safety and healthy relationships. And 9th-12th graders learn about online safety, healthy relationships, and human trafficking. This is all in compliance with Jenna’s Law, which is a Texas law that mandates all public schools, charter schools, and daycare facilities train school aged children (K-12th graders), staff, and parents on the signs and symptoms of all forms of child abuse. Each course is available for parents to preview upon request.

  • Incomplete

  • We believe the first step in prevention is education, so we partner with schools, churches, daycares, and other nonprofits to provide evidence-based and age-appropriate presentations on child abuse. Our mission is to prevent abuse by equipping children, educators, parents, and community members with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify, respond to, and report suspected abuse. Through structured curriculum, professional development, and community engagement, we strive to create informed, supportive environments that foster the health, safety, and well-being of all children. For more information on what free education services we provide, please email education@mrccac.org.

  • Advocacy is the act of helping someone in need of support. It encompasses all of the services we offer our clients such as SAFE accompaniment, court accompaniment, legal accompaniment, follow-up calls, referrals to community resources, and calls received via our 24/7 Sexual Assault Hotline.

  • The Midland Rape Crisis and Children’s Advocacy Center (MRCCAC) is committed to combating human trafficking through education, prevention, and comprehensive support services. Our outreach team delivers prevention-based presentations in schools, youth organizations, and community settings to help children and adults recognize the signs of trafficking and know how to respond safely.

    In addition to community education and awareness initiatives, MRCCAC provides direct services to children impacted by trafficking or exploitation through our Forensic Interview and Family Advocacy programs.

    • Our Forensic Interviewers conduct trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate interviews in a safe and supportive environment to ensure that each child’s voice is heard while minimizing re-traumatization.

    • Our Family Advocates offer ongoing support, crisis intervention, and connection to critical resources, ensuring that both the child and their non-offending caregivers receive the care, information, and assistance they need throughout the investigative and healing processes.

    In collaboration with law enforcement, child protective services, and other community partners, we aim to strengthen the regional response to trafficking and support survivors through advocacy, coordinated care, and education.

  • To qualify for therapy services, children must disclose abuse during their forensic interview and complete a trauma screening. If the screening shows signs of moderate distress, the child will be placed on our waitlist.

    Adults qualify for services if they are survivors of childhood sexual abuse or adult sexual assault.

    In some cases, child and adult witnesses to violent crimes or homicides may also be eligible.