All reports of abuse originate through the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services,  Child Protective Services or law enforcement agencies in Travis County. They then send children with suspected abuse to the Center for Child Protection to begin the investigative process. The Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., and staff is on-call 24-hours a day for emergencies.

The mission of the Center for Child Protection is to reduce the trauma to children during the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases. We provide the facility and support that brings the Child Protection Team (CPT) professionals to the child at the Center for Child Protection. This Children's Advocacy Center model promotes better communication between CPT professionals and parents/caregivers. Better communication allows for more accurate, immediate assessment of a child's safety and better information to parents/caregivers about the criminal justice process. All of this means that children are less traumatized and can begin the recovery process.

The Center for Child Protection, a nationally accredited Children's Advocacy Center, provides a specially-equipped, child-friendly environment to place children at ease when they visit the Center. Volunteers keep children occupied with toys, books, and coloring projects while their families confer with police officers and social workers. Children are then interviewed by trained forensic interviewers who record what each child has to say so their account can be used by investigators. After children are interviewed, each child receives a small, nutritious snack and a small stuffed animal to take with them. Subsequent appointments with clinical staff may involve a medical examination and/or therapy sessions to give children a safe place to express and process the trauma they have experienced, so they can continue the healing process. A variety of services and support is also available for families.

No. Children are scheduled for appointments at the Center that last from one to three hours. Because the Center for Child Protection is not a children’s shelter, children go home with a protective parent or caregiver. If this is not possible, Child Protective Services will find an appropriate, safe environment, such as a children's shelter or foster home, in which children can stay on a temporary basis.

The child abuse investigation and intervention systems are overwhelmed with cases, a lack of resources, and an enormous need for communication. Although the current system is not perfect, we are changing the way these children's cases are managed. Continued community participation and increased public awareness are key to ongoing improvement.

No. CPS is a governmental agency whose lawful mandate is to investigate child abuse cases. CPS refers children who have been suspected victims of abuse or neglect to the Center for forensic and clinical services. They are also a part of the Child Protection Team (CPT) with the Center for Child Protection.

The Center for Child Protection is where children and families go at the beginning of the abuse investigation process to receive a forensic interview and a host of intervention services. Some children seen at the Center for Child Protection have caregivers who will support and protect them. Others do not. When children are removed from their home or have ongoing involvement with Child Protective Services, a CASA volunteer may be appointed by the court to advocate for the child during civil court proceedings. These same children may be placed at the Austin Children’s Shelter while Child Protective Services completes their investigation and locates an appropriate foster home. Some children may need the services of all three agencies. However, our missions are distinctly unique and not duplicative in nature.

More information about the Children's Advocacy Center model can be found at Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas and at the National Children's Alliance. These sites list locations for Children's Advocacy Centers in Texas and across the nation.