Inside America’s First On-Base Children’s Advocacy Center: Transforming Family Support for Military Communities in 2025
The Children’s Advocacy Center of Central Texas launches a groundbreaking facility at Fort Cavazos, revolutionizing support for military families.
- First-ever: Children’s Advocacy Center on a U.S. military installation
- 10,000+ children and families served since 1997
- Multidisciplinary: Law enforcement, medical, legal, and mental health experts on-site
The landscape of military family support just evolved dramatically. On June 5th, 2025, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Central Texas (CACCT) unveiled a history-making satellite office right on Fort Cavazos—the first Children’s Advocacy Center ever established on a U.S. military base.
This pioneering step marks a new era for military children and parents in need, eliminating barriers to access expert care after trauma. The new office results from a unique partnership forged in 2023 with the Office of Special Trial Counsel, growing to include the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division and other specialists. Together, this team is reshaping the standard for family well-being across all branches of the armed forces.
Q: Why Is This Center a Game-Changer for Military Families?
Until now, military families facing traumatic events often struggled to reach specialized child advocacy resources located off-base. The launch of CACCT’s Fort Cavazos location changes the equation overnight, offering:
– Immediate access to forensic interviews using expert techniques in a child-friendly, neutral space
– On-site mental health services for both children and parents
– Family advocacy to connect survivors with vital resources and guide them on the road to recovery
Now, soldiers can focus on their mission, knowing their families have specialized support just steps away—a crucial factor for troop readiness.
How Does the Advocacy Center Work?
The center operates with a multidisciplinary team comprising law enforcement officers, child protection workers, therapists, clinicians, and legal professionals. This approach brings military families compassionate, all-in-one care:
– Forensic interviewers use science-backed methods to document children’s experiences safely and thoroughly.
– Family advocates meet with parents, offering access to medical and counseling services.
– Ongoing mental health support aims to foster whole-family healing—a key innovation for 2025 and beyond.
“Harmony on the home front equals focus on the front lines,” as reflected in the center’s mission: protect, heal, and empower the most vulnerable.
Q: What’s the Impact So Far?
Since its founding in 1997, CACCT has supported over 10,000 children and families across Central Texas counties. Now, with its presence at Fort Cavazos—a cornerstone of the U.S. Army’s infrastructure—thousands more military families will benefit directly.
Leaders at Fort Cavazos echo that this milestone is about more than just enhanced services. It’s about ensuring those who commit offenses face justice while delivering hope and healing to those affected—reinforcing the “Cavazos way” as the new Army gold standard.
How Will the Center Shape Military Support in 2025 and Beyond?
The blueprint created at Fort Cavazos is poised to influence military installations nationwide. With the debut of this center:
– Barriers to mental health care and trauma recovery on bases are being broken down.
– Prosecutorial missions gain strength with on-site expertise in child interviews and evidence gathering.
– The model demonstrates a scalable, military-community partnership ready to replicate coast-to-coast.
Explore more about child advocacy programs at National Children’s Advocacy Center, military support systems at U.S. Army, and mental health resources with National Institute of Mental Health.
Support Military Families—Be the Change
Action Checklist:
- Learn about advocacy centers and how they help (visit national resources)
- Raise awareness of on-base family support initiatives in your community
- Support army families through volunteering or donations
- Encourage leaders to replicate innovative models at other military installations
- Stay informed on new developments transforming care for children and families nationwide
This trailblazing effort at Fort Cavazos is more than a ribbon-cutting—it’s a defining commitment to America’s military children and the heroes who serve.
