Military Base Makes History: First Children’s Advocacy Center Opens at Fort Cavazos, Transforming Support for Service Families

Inside the Groundbreaking Children’s Advocacy Center at Fort Cavazos: What This Means for Military Families in 2025

The first Children’s Advocacy Center launches on a U.S. military base, promising transformative care and support for military kids and families in 2025.

A historic moment unfolded at Fort Cavazos, Texas, as the Children’s Advocacy Center of Central Texas (CACCT) officially launched the first Children’s Advocacy Center ever on a U.S. military base. The June 5th ribbon-cutting marks a huge leap in support for military families—bringing essential child-focused protection and resources directly onto the installation.

This innovative office, born from a tight partnership that began in 2023 between CACCT and the Office of Special Trial Counsel, now includes the influential U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division. Its mission is clear: shield military children from harm, speed recovery from trauma, and strengthen the core of America’s fighting force by supporting their families.

For nearly three decades, CACCT has led the way in Texas, helping over 10,000 children and families deal with crisis and begin to heal. Now, for the first time, military parents and their kids can access these life-changing services where they live and serve—without the burden of traveling off base. This breakthrough meets urgent needs and sets the stage for similar programs nationwide.

Q&A: Why Is This Advocacy Center So Significant?

• What sets this center apart?
  Never before has a Children’s Advocacy Center opened on a U.S. military base. This move brings vital support to families right where soldiers live and work, eliminating barriers like long drives and off-post referrals.
• How does it help military families?
  The center offers forensic interviews in a safe, child-friendly setting, helping investigators build strong cases while minimizing stress for kids. There’s in-depth family advocacy, mental health support for both adults and children, and ongoing access to resources—tools proven to help families emerge stronger after trauma.
• Who benefits most?
  Children and families dealing with crisis, abuse, or trauma—especially those connected to military life—stand to gain the most. But ultimately, a stronger, more resilient home front means a more mission-ready Army.

How Does the Children’s Advocacy Center Work on Base?

CACCT’s satellite office at Fort Cavazos operates with a unique, multidisciplinary team approach. This group unites professionals from law enforcement, child protection, medical, mental health, and legal fields. They collaborate in a space designed specifically for children—neutral, comforting, and empowering.

When children face trauma or abuse, forensic interviewers use specialized techniques to help kids share their stories safely. Investigators gather facts sensitively while family advocates offer guidance, resources, and recovery plans. Both children and parents receive trauma-informed mental health care, creating a path toward healing for the whole family.

For more about Children’s Advocacy Centers nationwide, visit the National Children’s Alliance and learn more about the U.S. Army at the official Army website.

Will Other Military Installations Follow?

With the Fort Cavazos center blazing the trail, experts expect other military bases to follow this model in 2025 and beyond. The easy-access support, blended with military-lifestyle expertise, is seen as a new gold standard for protecting military children and supporting service member families.

Stakeholders say the move will ripple through the military community, inspiring more resources, faster responses, and better outcomes nationwide. The hope is clear: safe, healthy families mean a stronger, more focused force.

How Can Your Family Access Help?

Military families stationed at Fort Cavazos can now walk into the CACCT satellite office for confidential interviews, counseling, advocacy, and more. The process is streamlined, private, and trauma-sensitive—from first report to ongoing recovery. Families elsewhere can look up resources at the Child Welfare Information Gateway or contact their local military support services for guidance.

What’s Next for Military Child Advocacy?

Momentum is building. With visible results and widespread support, advocates anticipate a surge in similar initiatives—reaching more families and making every military installation a safer, more supportive environment for America’s children.

Help strengthen your community. Spread the word, support advocacy programs, and learn how you or someone you know can benefit from these innovative resources!

Checklist: What Military Families Should Know
• New CACCT office now open at Fort Cavazos—first on a military base
• Services include forensic interviews, family advocacy, and mental health support
• Access is confidential, child-friendly, and focused on recovery
• Look for similar programs as this model expands nationwide in 2025
• Find more resources at childwelfare.gov and army.mil