The C.A.R.E. Center (Child Abuse Response & Evaluation), Inc. is a non-profit organization and Nationally Accredited Child Advocacy Center.  Serving Oklahoma County, The C.A.R.E. Center provides investigative forensic interviews and medical examinations in a child friendly setting for professionals who investigate child crimes.  Working together as an independent member of an interdisciplinary team with medical professionals, law enforcement agencies and child protection services, The C.A.R.E. Center staff provides the most efficient and comprehensive services to children and their families. 

MISSION:  To assist children through investigation and intervention in a supportive and protective setting.  At the CARE Center, every child is treated with compassion, love and respect in a safe and secure environment.

SERVICES PROVIDED:

• Forensic Interviews are conducted in child friendly, age-appropriate setting.  The emphasis is on the child’s comfort, and obtaining accurate information.
• Forensic Medical Exams are conducted on The C.A.R.E. Center campus when appropriate.  Child abuse specialists from Children’s Hospital provide all of the medical exams.
• Counseling Services are offered through The C.A.R.E. Center and the CARE Counseling Program.  Along with team members and the child’s family, the Mental Health Professional at The C.A.R.E. Center will determine whether or not to refer counseling to the children and their families.   

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Grant Soderberg, President
Becky Roten, Vice President
Debra Handy, Secretary/Treasurer
David B. Hooten, Executive Director

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
David M. Box
Allyson L. Carson
Kim Garrett,
Todd Goodman
Gregg Grost
Karen Kreger
Linda Larason
Randy Lewis
Dan Martel
Jean McLaughlin
Karen Baker Renfroe
Jenifer Stehr
Tony Tyler

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Advisory Board

William Citty, Chief — Oklahoma City Police Department
Howard H. Hendrick, Director — Dept. of Human Services
David Prater, District Attorney — Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office
Sarah Rahhal, Director of Outpatient Services for Children and Families
Terrence Stull,M.D., Chairman, Department of Pediatrics — OU Health Sciences Center
John T. Whetsel, Sheriff — Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office


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Staff & Team

At the CARE Center, children and their families will find a team of compassionate, sensitive professionals who come together to meet the needs of children who have been abused. It is a team of real people who give their lives to serve those needing protection and help. A special understanding exists between these people—a bond that strengthens all those involved and increases the help they offer. Made up of law enforcement investigators, child protective service workers, assistant district attorneys, medical and family advocacy personnel, and volunteers, this team works together on the investigation, treatment, management and prosecution of child abuse cases, ensuring the best possible outcome, while creating a caring, supportive, and safe environment for children and their families.

In Oklahoma alone, 50,728 cases of child abuse or neglect were investigated in FY 2002, 11,996 of them in Oklahoma County alone. 27% or 13,903 were confirmed statewide; 27 percent of Oklahoma County investigations were confirmed. New studies reveal that one in three girls and one in five boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. In most communities, when children disclose abuse, they must traverse a maze of agencies where they are questioned by strangers in each of these "helping" agencies. But what occurs is rarely "helpful" to the children and their families. This system is not set up to assist the victims. In fact, that model only further traumatizes children and often results in their shutting down and refusing to answer questions at the most crucial point in the process: in the courtroom. This was the way it was in Oklahoma City until November 21, 1993.


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The C.A.R.E. Center began in 1989 as a project between the Mental Health Association in Oklahoma County and the Oklahoma City Police Department in an attempt to help child victims who were being interviewed at the police headquarters.  At the time, Captain Julie Smith of the Oklahoma City Police Department’s Child Abuse Unit approached Ann Mundy, the Associate Director of the Mental Health Association.  Together they developed a plan to help alleviate the fears children experienced by virtue of having to go the police station.  The CARE Unit opened January 15, 1990, on the third floor of the Oklahoma City Police Department.  Space was set aside for a playroom and child friendly interview rooms which were designed with the help of psychologists and interior designers.  Volunteers were trained by area psychologists to spend time playing with the children and answering questions from family members.  However, in spite of all good intentions, the police headquarters was the most child friendly environment.  A multidisciplinary task force visited a Child Advocacy Center in Dallas, TX in the spring of 1991.  The agency in Dallas offered a central, child friendly location for professionals of child abuse investigations to meet with victims of suspected abuse.  After viewing their approach to child abuse investigations, the task force set out to bring the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) model to Oklahoma County.  This model, established in 1985 in Huntsville, AL, by Congressman Bud Cramer, served as the basis for bridging the gap between the private and public sectors and placing the child’s needs first. 

The C.A.R.E. Center was incorporated on October 31, 1991, with Katy Davis serving as the first Board President and Ann Mundy as Executive Director.  After finding an appropriate facility and raising money to purchase and make renovations on a Victorian house in Downtown Oklahoma City, a ground breaking ceremony was held March 1, 1993.  On November 21, 1993, The C.A.R.E. Center opened its’ doors to the children and families of Oklahoma County. 

Today, The C.A.R.E. Center provides forensic interviews and medical examinations for over 1,000 children and provides services for over 3,500 children and family members a year.  The C.A.R.E. Center has expanded to boast a beautiful, five building campus that houses the C.A.R.E. Center staff, law enforcement personnel and Department of Human Services personnel. 

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National Children’s Alliance:  National Children’s Alliance (NCA) is the national association and accrediting body for children’s advocacy centers around the country, dedicated to helping local communities respond to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient – and put the needs of child victims first. NCA provides accreditation, training, support, technical assistance and leadership on a national level to the over 700 local children’s and child advocacy centers (CAC) and communities responding to reports of child abuse and neglect across the country.

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The CARE Center has won several awards in recent years.

2002: The CARE Center was honored with a prestigious second place award from the Society of Professional Journalists for the Family Brochure, an informational packet for families who visit the CARE Center

2001: The CARE Center was honored with a prestigious first place award from the Society of Professional Journalists for the 2000 Annual Report. Also, CARE Center volunteers were chosen by the Department of Human Services as the recipient of the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award.

2000: Ann Mundy, the CARE Center's former executive director, was presented with the Friends of Children Professional Award by the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. Also, the CARE Center was selected as an award winner by Creating Partnerships for Oklahoma Families, sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

1999: Bill A. Larson, a founding board member and past president of the CARE Center board of directors received the National Children's Alliance Individual Award for Volunteer Leadership. Also, the CARE Center received a second place award by the Oklahoma Professional Chapter of Society of Professional Journalists for its 1998 Annual Report.

1997: The Center received a "Lookin' Good" award from Oklahoma City Beautiful for restoration and beautification of the neighborhood where the CARE Center is located. Also, the CARE Center received the Award for Nonprofit Management Excellence by the Center for Nonprofit Management and was named to Leadership OKC, Class XIV.

1996: The CARE Center and the staff were awarded the Institute for Child Advocacy's Friends of Children Award, a prestigious statewide honor that recognizes individuals and programs that "are Building assets in our children."

1995: The CARE Center's 1994 Annual Report was the first place winner from the OKC's Society of Professional Journalists.

1994: The CARE Center won the Byliners Award for Child Welfare, presented by Women in Communications, Inc

1993: The CARE Center was named one of the top three non-profit groups by the Oklahoma Gazette.


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