WHAT WE DO

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:

Each year, too many children suffer from sexual abuse and severe physical abuse. Unfortunately, in their attempts to help protect child abuse victims, our criminal and civil justice systems can inadvertently cause additional suffering to child victims and their families.

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.

Child Protection Team:

The Children’s Advocacy Center program supports and coordinates the efforts of the Midland, Howard, and Andrews County Child Protection Teams of professionals consisting of:

• The Police Department
• Child Protective Services
• The County Sheriff’s Office
• Local Hospitals
• The District Attorney’s Office

The County Child Protection Teams Collaborate 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 about the incidence and impact of child abuse

24-Hour Hotline Support:

Calling (432) 682-RAPE (7273) allows those in need of assistance to contact a real person any time of day or night for information on reporting assault/abuse, Center services, referrals, and crisis counseling.

Hospital Accompaniment:

The Midland Rape Crisis and Children’s Advocacy Center staff and trained volunteers are available 24 hours per day to meet survivors of recent sexual assault/sexual abuse at the emergency room of Midland Memorial Hospital to support them through the medical and forensic examinations and to provide on-site crisis counseling for survivors and their loved ones. The Center staff and volunteers also provide resources such as temporary clothing and referrals to emergency shelters and transportation.

Soft Interview Room:

The Midland Rape Crisis and Children’s Advocacy Center added a soft interview room as part of our trauma informed care of survivors of sexual assault. This space was created to be comfortable, allowing survivors to feel physically and emotionally safe while giving statements to the police. The comfortable feel of the room encourages survivors to come forward knowing they have a safe space.

The Midland Rape Crisis and Children’s Advocacy Center Education Program provides an array of public awareness, educational, and training programs to a wide variety of audiences including:

• The Play It Safe Program for elementary school students
• Child sexual abuse workshops for local clergy
• Child sexual abuse and sexual assault programs for school administrators, counselors, and teachers
• Volunteer advocacy training
• Professional training in conjunction with the Children’s Advocacy Center program for law enforcement and child protective services
• Public Awareness Presentations to local companies
• Not a Number for child trafficking and exploitation prevention

The Education Program conducts community awareness activities throughout the year regarding child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse as well as sexual assault issues.

MRCCAC provides therapy to survivors of sexual assault and child abuse, witnesses of homicide, and non-offending family members when they choose to deal with the effects of their trauma. Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Professional Counselor Interns to provide therapy services free of charge.  To join a therapy support group please call us at (432) 682-7273.

Therapy Helps Survivors:

• To identify and accept their feelings
• To increase self-acceptance and self-respect
• To encourage self-reliance
• To improve coping skills
• To improve communication skills
• To be creative and resourceful in confronting problems

MRCCAC Therapy Clients:

• Children
• Adolescents
• Adults
• Parents

Types of Therapy Offered:

• TF-CBT
• Art
• EMDR
• Play
• Sand Tray
• Family
• Groups
• Thrive: Adult, Female Survivors of Sexual Assault/Abuse Support Group
• Adult, Male Survivors of Sexual Assault/Abuse Group