Child Advocacy Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS, PROVIDE ACCESS TO CRITICAL SERVICES, AND RAISE COMMUNITY AWARENESS TO PREVENT AND REDUCE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN SOUTHERN MISSOURI. SEE CONINTUATION ON SCHEDULE O.WE ENVISION A COMMUNITY WHERE JUSTICE IS ACCESSIBLE, PREVENTION IS POSSIBLE, FAMILIES ARE RESILIENT, AND CHILDREN CAN HEAL.
- Income
- $3.6 million
- Spending
- $3.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 12.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 48%
- Employees
- 49
- Volunteers
- 181
- Highest pay
- $129,469, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $2.5 million spent. THE CURRENT PROGRAMS PROVIDED INCLUDE ADVOCACY, FORENSIC INTERVIEWS, MEDICAL EXAMS, TRAINING, MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS, AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM (MDT) COORDINATION. SERVICES ARE DONE WHILE IMPLEMENTING A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH AMONG ALL AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION. DURING 2024:1,657 CHILDREN WERE SERVED, 1,523 FORENSIC INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED, 1,324 MEDICAL EXAMS WERE PERFORMED. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CENTER.UNIQUE TO THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER IS JAVA, A SPECIALLY TRAINED COMFORT DOG WHO SITS WITH CHILDREN DURING THEIR FORENSIC INTERVIEW AND IN SOME CASES THEIR MEDICAL EXAM. THE CHILD AND FAMILY ADVOCATES FOLLOW THE CASE FROM BEGINNING TO END AND PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT TO THE NON-OFFENDING CAREGIVER TO ENSURE THAT THE CHILD IS, IN TURN, SUPPORTED. THIS INCLUDES COORDINATING SUPPORT SERVICES TO MEET IMMEDIATE AND ONGOING NEEDS. CASE UPDATES ARE REGULARLY GIVEN BY THE CHILD ADVOCATES TO KEEP THE GUARDIAN INFORMED.THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW IS CONDUCTED ONE-ON-ONE BY A PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED INTERVIEWER WHILE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM OBSERVE AND LISTEN THROUGH CLOSED CIRCUIT VIDEO SYSTEMS. THE FORENSIC INTERVIEWER FOLLOWS A DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PROTOCOL THAT UTILIZES RESEARCH AND PRACTICE-INFORMED TECHNIQUES TO GATHER DETAILS ABOUT AN EVENT THE CHILD MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED OR WITNESSED. MEDICAL SERVICES AVAILABLE INCLUDE CHILD AT RISK EXAMS (CARE), SEXUALASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMS (SAFE), AND HEALTHY CHILD AND YOUTH SCREENINGS. THE MEDICAL EXAMS ARE NONINVASIVE, CONDUCTED IN A CHILD-FRIENDLY MANNER, AND THE CHILD-VICTIMS ARE NEVER FORCED TO COMPLETE AN EXAM. THE HIGHLY TRAINED STAFF OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND MEDICAL ASSISTANTS WORK TIRELESSLY TO CREATE A COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT THAT DOES NOT FEEL THREATENING OR INTIMIDATING. THE MEDICAL EXAMINATION IS IMPORTANT NOT JUST FOR WHAT IT MAY PROVIDE TO THE INVESTIGATION, BUT BECAUSE BEING TOLD "YOU ARE OK. YOU ARE NOT BROKEN." BY A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL CAN BE A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN THE CHILD VICTIM'S HEALING JOURNEY. THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER PROVIDES TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR PROFESSIONALS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FRONT-LINE PROVIDERS ON PREVENTING, RECOGNIZING, RESPONDING TO, AND REPORTING CHILD ABUSE. THE WIDE ARRAY OF TRAINING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE INCLUDE STEWARDS OF CHILDREN, MANDATED REPORTER, CHILD SAFETY MATTERS, AND TEEN SAFETY MATTERS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER PROVIDES MDT SPECIFIC TRAINING INCLUDING NEW MDT MEMBER TRAINING, FIRST CONTACT: MINIMAL FACTS TRAINING, AND BUILDING INITIAL CHILD INTERVIEWING SKILLS. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VICTIM CENTER, A LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER CONNECTS CHILD VICTIMS TO TRAUMA- FOCUSED THERAPY TO SUPPORT THEIR HEALING PROCESS. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST AND ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO NON-OFFENDING CAREGIVERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. THE COLLABORATIVE AND EFFECTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP AMONG MDT MEMBERS IS CENTRAL TO ENSURING THE RESPONSE TO CHILD ABUSE IS PROMPT TO REDUCE SEVERITY AND COORDINATED TO ENSURE ON-GOING SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS. THE MDT COORDINATORS SCHEDULE AND MANAGE MONTHLY MDT MEETINGS, CONVENE CASE SPECIFIC MDT REVIEWS AS NEEDED, AND HELP MAINTAIN AN EFFECTIVE FLOW OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION AMONG ALL MDT PARTNERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1996.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.