A Message to Lawmakers
Thank you for taking the time to learn about Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas. Your support helps 10,000+ Arkansas children each year receive the care, protection and services they need while strengthening our statewide response, healing and justice.
We invite you to visit your local CAC to see this work firsthand and meet the professionals serving children in your district.
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Advocating for
Every Child in Arkansas
Protecting children across Arkansas requires strong communities, expert professionals and a coordinated response centered on the best outcomes for every child.
CACs are essential to that response. They bring together law enforcement, prosecutors, medical and mental health professionals and child welfare and community partners to ensure children receive the support they need.
CACar advocates for the policies, funding and resources needed to keep CACs strong and ensure they can continue this essential work. We provide statewide leadership, support and a voice for CACs and MDTs — because every community needs a coordinated, expert response when a child experiences abuse.
CACs are essential. Our advocacy helps ensure they are here for every child who needs them.
Legislative Advocacy & Framework
At the heart of our mission is a robust legislative foundation designed to protect Arkansas’ most vulnerable citizens. Our work is guided by the Arkansas Child Safety Center Act (Ark. Code § 9-5-101 et seq.), which establishes the standards and statewide purpose for Child Advocacy Centers — referred to in the statute as "Child Safety Centers."
Act 975: A New Era of Coordination
A pivotal milestone in our history was the passage of Act 975 of 2021. This landmark legislation significantly enhanced the role of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas (CACar) within the state’s response to child maltreatment.
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Key provisions of Act 975 include:
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The Act transferred responsibility of the Arkansas MDT Project to CACar, allowing for a more streamlined and unified approach to child abuse investigations across the state.
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The Act designated the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration as the State Administering Agency for the CAC Program, while empowering CACar to provide essential training, technical assistance and quality assurance to local centers.
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The Act formalized CACar’s role in coordinating and training MDTs, ensuring that every county in Arkansas has access to a standardized, expert-led response to child abuse.
How CACs Make a Difference
Arkansas’ network of 18 CACs bring together law enforcement, medical providers, child advocates and mental health professionals to reduce trauma for children while strengthening investigations and improving outcomes.
In 2025, CACs in Arkansas provided 145,325 direct services to 13,568 children and their families — all at no cost. Did you know:
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CACs prevent abuse and keep children safe
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CACs hold offenders accountable
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CACs help children heal
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CACs are committed to research-supported practice
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CACs save money
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CACs are efficient
How Legislators Make a Difference
CACs rely on consistent state and federal funding to provide no-cost services to abused children and their families. While philanthropic and local support play a valuable role, public funding provides:
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Skilled professionals and specialized training for trauma-informed investigations
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Mental health services for children and non-offending family members
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Technology and infrastructure for efficient evidence collection, case management and agency coordination
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By maintaining and expanding these resources, CACs reduce the social and economic costs of untreated trauma for over 10,000 children in Arkansas every year.