Children's Advocacy Center of Independence County

06/03/2026

Whew! The LAUNCHPAD | Business Expo presented by Citizens Bank did not fail to deliver! We spent the day meeting incredible people who care deeply about children and families in our area.

So many fun and energizing people stopped by our booth, made a connection, and made our day! We always enjoy spending time with the remarkable people who make Batesville such a wonderful place to live and serve.

If you stopped by and want to follow up about a tour, we'd love to hear from you! If you missed us but would like to learn more about how our Center is helping children and families, send us a message.

We continue to be grateful to serve in a place that believes children deserve safety, hope, and healing. 💙

06/01/2026

💙 Save the Date! 💙

Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 24, 2026, as we prepare for our Annual Harvesting Hope Gala.

This year, we are excited to host our Gala at the Scottish Heritage Building on the campus of Lyon College.

Join us to hear stories of impact, connect with others who care about children, and discover how you can help make a difference in the lives of local children and families.

Every day, children and families in our community face difficult circumstances. Because of people like you, they have a safe place to turn for hope and healing.

Whether you have attended in the past or are joining us for the first time, we hope you'll make plans to be part of this special evening.

Keep an eye out for more details in the coming months, including sponsorship opportunities, ticket information, and event updates.

📅 Thursday, September 24, 2026

💙 We hope to see you there! 💙

05/26/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out Friday for our Open House! We had a great time connecting with so many wonderful people. We met committed community members, were asked thoughtful questions, and heard meaningful stories.

Thank you to Kyle and Amanda Roberts for your energetic and engaging presentations. Thank you to all the ambassadors with Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, you are an amazing team of individuals.

A very special thank you to Brenda Bittle for your powerful words, professionalism, and your commitment to helping children.

Thank you to Earth Station Nursery and Nature's Market and RV Park for contributing such beautiful plants and delicious food. You helped make our event special.

Thank you to our partners First Community Bank, Bad Boy Mowers, and White River Materials & Atlas Asphalt, Inc., Inc. Because of your meaningful and continued support we are able to provide free, critical services to child abuse victims and their families in five counties.

Last but not least, thank you to every member of our team and our Board. We are able to serve children and continue our mission To Empower, Protect, and Heal, because of your hard work and dedication.

05/21/2026

We are excited to share that our Board Vice President Jimmy Hodges has been named Southside Superintendent-Elect. He is an outstanding member of our community and is dedicated to making the lives of children safer and brighter.

His willingness to lead, support, and invest in the well-being of children helps strengthen the work we do and builds a brighter future.

Thank you, Jimmy, for your belief that every child deserves safety, hope, and the opportunity to thrive. We are thankful to have you as part of this work. 💙

Southside School District announced an important leadership transition following Monday night’s special board meeting.

Superintendent Dion Stevens will retire at the conclusion of the 2026-2027 school year after years of dedicated service and leadership that helped guide Southside through continued growth, campus expansion projects, and new opportunities for students and staff.

The Board of Education has named Jimmy Hodges as Superintendent-Elect for the 2026-2027 school year. Mr. Hodges currently serves as principal of Southside Charter High School and has served Southside students and families for the past 10 years in multiple leadership roles. During this transition year Mr. Hodges will work alongside Mr. Stevens in preparation for assuming superintendent responsibilities.

Please join us in thanking Mr. Stevens for his leadership and congratulating Mr. Hodges on his new role.

05/21/2026

Come see our center, talk with us, and learn more about our commitment to helping children heal. 💙

💙 OPEN HOUSE PLANNED FOR CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER IN BATESVILLE 💙

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Independence County will host a special Open House and Ribbon Cutting on Friday, May 22, from 12 PM until 2 PM in Batesville.

Community members are invited to tour the facility, meet the team, hear featured speakers, and learn more about the important work being done to support child abuse victims and families throughout the area.

📍 510 East Boswell Street — Batesville

Organizers say light refreshments will be served during the event.

The center’s mission is to empower, protect, and heal victims of child abuse while providing support and advocacy for families in the community.

READ MORE on this story from ArkansasRadio . com — CLICK the LINK BELOW in the comments ⬇️

05/20/2026

It is an honor to know and work with Investigator Brenda Bittle. She works tirelessly to protect and ensure justice for our children every single day.

She brings her expertise and deep commitment to helping children to every investigation.

Thank you Brenda for all you are doing to make the world safer for our children! 💙💙💙

Batesville Police Department Investigator Brenda Bittle. Bittle is also a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children task force. (All images by Andrea Bruner, White River Now) By Andrea Bruner, White River Now Batesville Police Investigator Brenda

05/15/2026

We are so proud to have Kyle serving as our Board President! Kyle leads through service, generosity, and a deep commitment to strengthening our community for children and families.

He and his wife Jessica are dedicated community members who continually invest their time and heart into making a difference.

Thank you for all you do! 💙

This week’s spotlight features Kyle Christopher. Kyle is a Lyon College graduate and has lived in this community for 26 years. He is currently a senior sales agent for Select

05/13/2026

We are grateful to 100 Families Initiative of Independence County for their continued work to strengthen and educate our community. And we are so thankful to our partner agencies for all the hard work they are doing to serve children and families in need-it takes a village!

Our Advocate, Maria Blanco spoke about how scary it is for children to speak up when abuse happens.These frightened, hurt children, need a safe space and professional support for these important disclosures.

This is a good discussion and we’d love to talk to you more about what we are doing and how you can help! Message us at: www.cacindependence.org/contact-us/

In Independence County, Arkansas professionals working in child welfare, and behavioral health came together for a candid community conversation about the reali

05/12/2026

💙 Thank You!! 💙

Our churches continued support is helping make a difference in the lives of the children we serve.

This week we want to recognize Weapons Of A Warrior Ministries who brought snacks and drinks for the children and families we serve. Pictured on the right is Natasha Jones-McCoy, our Mental Health Therapist, and on the left is our friend Kandace Sherman.

Their generous donation helps create a comforting environment during what is a very difficult day for a child and family.

Small acts of kindness remind small hearts they are not alone. 💙

05/11/2026

Today we are celebrating our SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner), Teighlor Boutwell Morris, whose compassion, excellence, and servant heart make a difference every single day.

Teighlor completed specialized training to provide the highest level of care possible for the children we serve. Whether she is conducting an exam with warmth and compassion, presenting to students, or supporting our team, she gives her best, every time.

As our on-call SANE nurse, she answers the call whenever a child needs her, whether that is 3:00 in the afternoon or 3:00 in the morning.

She meets children where they are, cares deeply about doing things well, and brings both skill and kindness into every interaction.

We are incredibly grateful for the impact she makes on the children and families we serve, our team, and our community.

Thank you Teighlor, for being a safe place for children. 💙