A Message from our Executive Director

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Shockingly, the average age for an individual to be lured into sex trafficking is 12. Simply put, the trafficking of children is child abuse and is a horror no child should have to endure. The trainings that The CAC offered related to child sex trafficking throughout January are available on our YouTube page. Please take this opportunity to educate yourself about this issue and learn how you can help protect the children in our community from this most egregious form of victimization. 

As we kick off 2023, I also want to recognize our incredibly dedicated staff for providing compassionate care to 3,665 children this past year. We are grateful for all of our partners and community supporters who work with us to provide these critical services to the children and families of Harris County. See our 2022 Impact Report below.

Sincerely,

Kerry McCracken,

Executive Director

There is HOPE at The CAC for for sexually exploited and at-risk youth. In 2021, The CAC and St. Martin’s Episcopal Church partnered together to begin the HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Empowerment) Mentor Program. The HOPE program connects commercially sexually exploited youth (CSEY) and at-risk children who receive mental health services at The CAC with mentoring adults from St. Martin’s Episcopal Church. Through this connection with mentors, child victims of CSEY or those at-risk are empowered with the social and academic skills necessary to live a fulfilling life after their abuse.

The CAC is excited to host the Spirit of Spring Gala on April 29, 2023, at the Marriott Marquis, chaired by Consuelo Macpherson, Mariana Pope, and Sara Downey. We will bring our community together for one mission: protecting children, healing families, and preventing child sexual abuse and child sex trafficking in our community. Our Gala has taken a 20+ year hiatus, and now we welcome all our supporters to our reimagined cornerstone event!

Event Chairs

Consuelo Macpherson

Mariana Pope

Sara Downey

Marriott Marquis

1777 Walker Street

Houston, TX 77010

Questions about our fundraising events? Contact Kathleen Doveno at Kathleen.Doveno@cac.hctx.net or (713) 986-3370.

On Thursday, January 5th The CAC hosted our 1st Annual Human Trafficking Awareness Day and Press Conference. The press conference included community leaders from the Harris County Child Sex Trafficking Team's Advisory Council.

Speakers included Jennifer Hill, Assistant Executive Director at The CAC; Kim Ogg, Harris County District Attorney; Matt Broussard, Director of the Youth Services Division at Harris County Resources for Children and Adults; Sgt. Antonio Gracia Jr., Houston Police Department Vice Division-HTRA Task Force Supervisor; Kerri Taylor, Executive Director at Unbound Houston; and Cara Parker, Chief Executive Officer at The Landing.

Watch the Press Conference here.

Earlier this month, Senator John Cornyn visited The CAC to learn more about the services we provide and the multidisciplinary approach that we implement throughout the Advocacy Center Movement. He hosted a Round Table and Press Conference to announce the passing of the Respect for Child Survivors Act.

Read more about his visit here.