Our Mission

To ensure that children and families affected by child abuse receive a compassionate, community-based intervention through a multidisciplinary team approach to prevent, identify, investigate, prosecute, and treat child maltreatment.

Image of a woman helping a child button his jacket. Child has a red backpack. Yellow blob and blue dotted squiggle line in the background.
Image of a family piled on top of each other, a dad, mom and two kids. Purple blob and red dotted squiggle line in the background.

Our Vision

To break the cycle of trauma by restoring lives and futures of children and families impacted by child abuse.

Our Values

Compassion

We demonstrate care, concern, and respect for families by responding with support and empathy.

Commitment

We will strive to display commitment to children, families, and the community by leading efforts to provide quality services delivered with integrity and excellence.

Advocacy

We believe that trauma-informed services should be confidential, inclusive, and survivor-centered, restoring both hope and safety.

Collaboration

We will exemplify teamwork with our partners by building mutual trust and respect. In all we do, we will remain focused on asking, what is best for the child?

Children's Advocacy Centers of Kansas Video

Meet Our Staff

Bev Turner, MPA

Executive Director
bev@cacdouglas.org

Shelby Deist, LBSW

Family Advocate / Forensic Interviewer
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Board of Directors

Paula Martin

Board Chair, retired district court judge

Devon Kim

Board Vice Chair, CEO, Haase + Long

Mark Gonzales

Board Treasurer, Executive Vice President, Great American Bank

Jackie Clark

Board Secretary, Investigator, Lawrence Police Department

Rita Fulton-Mays

Detective Sergeant, Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Mark Buhler

Producer, CEK Insurance

Hayley Battenberg

Child Protection Supervisor, Department for Children and Families

Suzanne Valdez

Douglas County District Attorney

Chrissy Heikkila

Director of Grants, Heartland Community Health Center

Pam Weigand

Director, Douglas County Criminal Justice Youth Services

Nick Evangelidis, MD
Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist at Panda Pediatrics, Heartland Community Health Center

Emily Killough, MD

Child Abuse Pediatrician, Children's Mercy Kansas City




Kiley Luckett
Mental Health Coordinator, Lawrence Public Schools