Calhoun Cleburne Children’s Center

About Us

With the belief in the rights of all children to be protected and to have a safe and nurturing childhood, it is the mission of the Calhoun/Cleburne Children’s Center, Inc. to provide sensitive, supportive, and expert professional interventions and assistance to sexually and physically abused children through a multi-disciplinary approach.  The Calhoun/Cleburne Children’s Center was formed in 1996, and was one of the first child advocacy centers in the country. Since its formation, Calhoun and Cleburne Counties have developed an inter-agency protocol which mandates that all child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse allegations be referred to the Children’s Center, where the children can be interviewed by one person, in a safe and friendly environment, while the investigative team observes. This method of handling child abuse cases has led to children being able to give more information, to the sharing of information by the investigating agencies, and the ultimate prosecution of increasing numbers of perpetrators.  The Center has also added therapeutic and family advocate services.  This not only reduces trauma during the process, but promotes healing for the entire family.

Our Staff:

Executive Director:  Elaine Young
Elaine has been employed with the CAC since 2001.  She has been a Therapist/Forensic Interviewer throughout her employment here, and became executive director in May 2015.

Office Manager/Receptionist:  Nancy Estes 
Nancy is the first point of contact for most people that work with us at the Calhoun/Cleburne Children's Center.  She has been at the CAC for more than 20 years. 

Family Advocate/Case Manager:  Jane Ponder
Jane has been here for more than 10 years.  It is Jane's job to work with parents by providing information regarding the criminal process, victim compensation, and to help them by making referrals for medical appointments and other services, as needed.

Clinical Supervisor:  Kara Brooks
Kara came back to us in 2016, after being gone for 8 years. She supervises interns and staff that may not be licensed yet, and is in charge of assigning clients, etc.

Therapeutic Staff: Bobbie Chanler, Elaine Young, Kara Brooks
All of our therapists are master's level, licensed counselors(or working toward licensure) with additional training in Forensic Interviewing of Children and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.