Improving the lives of abused children in Collier County
Restoring Safety, Rebuilding Trust
The Collier Children’s Advocacy Center was founded in 1986 as a Child Protection Team, built on one simple truth: protecting children from abuse requires all of us—working together. In our very first year, we served 167 children and their non-offending caregivers. Nearly four decades later, that number has grown to over 1,400 children and family members annually.
What began as a core investigative team has grown into a comprehensive, trauma-informed agency delivering a full continuum of care—all free of charge.
Our programs include:
Forensic interviews and medical evaluations
Court and family advocacy
Therapeutic counseling
Parent education and support
Community awareness and prevention training
As Collier County has grown, so has the need for specialized support. In response, we’ve expanded our services to meet children and families at their most vulnerable moments and help them begin to heal.
Today, the Collier CAC coordinates the investigation, prosecution, and recovery process for the most serious cases of child abuse in our community. These cases rise to the level of a criminal offense. The average child we serve is a 7-year-old girl, sexually abused by someone she knows and trusts.
In 2025 alone, we provided over 2,000 hours of therapy. In cases that went to trial, 87% ended in convictions, testament to our close partnership with law enforcement, the Department of Children and Families, the State Attorney’s Office, and our unwavering commitment to every child who walks through our doors.
We are here to restore safety, rebuild trust, and help children reclaim their futures.
"There are far too many silent sufferers. Not because they do not yearn to reach out, but because they have tried and found no one who cares."
— Richelle E. Goodrich, Author
From our modest beginnings, the CAC has grown into a hub for four distinct programs that work in unison to serve child victims and their families.
These programs not only support the coordinated investigation and prosecution of child abusers, but also reduce the lasting emotional toll of trauma through direct services. Our multidisciplinary team includes forensic interviewers, licensed therapists, family advocates, pediatricians, and researchers—each playing a vital role in a child’s path to healing.
We also work hand-in-hand with key partners.
Together, we form a united front against child abuse.