Ed & Nancy Hanenburg Children's Advocacy Center

Ed & Nancy Hanenburg Children's Advocacy Center We exist to protect children, empower families, and bring hope and healing after child sexual abuse.

Child sexual abuse is an epidemic. 1:10 children before the age of 18 are sexually abused and Ottawa County is not immune. No single agency can possibly meet all the needs of sexually victimized children and their families. Taking child victims from agency to agency for multiple interviews traumatizes children and, in fact, re-victimizes them. The CAC is committed to providing a coordinated, multi

-disciplinary team approach with Child Protective Services, law enforcement, prosecution, and mental/medical health professionals to get our clients justice in anyway we can. We provide programs and support services for child victims and their non-offending families at zero cost, for life, enabling them to heal emotionally and physically.

A Home Run for Kids! A huge thank you to Detective Adam Hill for choosing the Children's Advocacy Center as this year's ...
08/24/2026

A Home Run for Kids!

A huge thank you to Detective Adam Hill for choosing the Children's Advocacy Center as this year's beneficiary of Stan's Bar's Charity Softball Tournament this past Saturday.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of everyone involved, the tournament raised more than $3,500 for the CAC and collected an amazing donation of household and personal care items for Cora's Care Closet, helping meet the everyday needs of the children and families we serve.

We're so grateful to everyone who played, volunteered, donated, and cheered from the sidelines. Thank you for stepping up to the plate for kids!

As families prepare for a new school year, don't forget one of the most important back-to-school essentials: conversatio...
08/20/2026

As families prepare for a new school year, don't forget one of the most important back-to-school essentials: conversations about safety. Before the first bell rings, take a few minutes to talk with your child about:

Trusted adults – Help them identify teachers, counselors, or other adults they can turn to if they ever need help.

Healthy boundaries – Remind them it's okay to say "no" to unwanted touch, they never have to keep unsafe secrets, and they should always tell a trusted adult if something doesn't feel right.

Digital safety – Talk about appropriate online communication and encourage them to tell you if anyone asks them to move conversations to private apps or keep messages secret.

Open conversations – Instead of asking, "How was your day?" try questions like, "What was the best part of your day?" or "Did anything make you feel uncomfortable today?"

They can always come to you – Let your child know they won't get in trouble for speaking up, even if they made a mistake. Knowing they'll be heard and supported makes it easier to ask for help when they need it.

These everyday conversations build trust, confidence, and resilience which help kids to feel safe, supported, and ready to learn all year long.

Real the full article from NCA here: https://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/school-safety-conversations/

Today's hot dog proceeds at Stan's Bar will benefit the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC), helping us provide prevention,...
08/19/2026

Today's hot dog proceeds at Stan's Bar will benefit the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC), helping us provide prevention, advocacy, and intervention services for children and families affected by child sexual abuse in Ottawa County, all at no cost to the families we serve.

The support continues this weekend at the Stan's Bar Charity Softball Tournament, where last year's defending champions selected the CAC as this year's benefiting charity.

Location: Central Park – Spring Lake
Date: Saturday, August 22
Time: Games begin at 10:30 AM

Come cheer on four local teams:
⚾ Bilz
⚾ Adam & Kerry Hill / Miranda and Morphine
⚾ French Filmz
⚾ Stan's Bar

Household supplies, personal hygiene items, and monetary donations for Cora's Closet will also be collected to help meet the everyday needs of the children and families we serve. A huge thank you to Stan's Bar, the participating teams, and everyone who supports our mission. We hope to see you this weekend!

A big thank you to the 20 kids and their parents from the Department of Health and Human Services who spent part of thei...
08/17/2026

A big thank you to the 20 kids and their parents from the Department of Health and Human Services who spent part of their Bring Your Kid to Work Day volunteering with us!

Our young volunteers brightened our Healing Garden by decorating and hiding colorful rocks for clients to discover. They also assembled and donated more than 20 Birthday in a Bag kits filled with cake mix, frosting, candles, and other birthday essentials.

Their kindness, creativity, and generosity will help bring smiles to children and families in our community. Thank you for making a difference!

Youth sports should build confidence, teamwork, and resilience but safety must always come first! Here are five simple w...
08/13/2026

Youth sports should build confidence, teamwork, and resilience but safety must always come first! Here are five simple ways parents and caregivers can help create a safer sports environment:

✅ Build relationships, not just rosters. Get to know coaches, volunteers, and league leaders. Understand who is responsible for your child and how your organization communicates with families.

✅ Create a team off the field. Make home a safe place for your child to share both victories and concerns. Listen without judgment and remind them they can always come to you.

✅ Stay present and engaged. Attend games when you can, volunteer if possible, and pay attention to the team culture, not just the scoreboard.

✅ Trust your instincts and speak up. If something doesn't feel right, ask questions. Open communication helps create stronger, safer organizations.

✅ Remember what success really looks like. Trophies fade, but children remember how adults treated them. Every child deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported.

Learn more about keeping young athletes safe: https://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/youth-sports-safety/

Happiest of birthdays to our amazing Prevention Program Specialist, Cindy! Cindy has the kindest heart and the sweetest ...
08/11/2026

Happiest of birthdays to our amazing Prevention Program Specialist, Cindy!

Cindy has the kindest heart and the sweetest spirit. Whether she's teaching children about body safety in the classroom, representing the CAC at community events, or making sure our Kids Have Rights materials are ready to make an impact, she approaches everything she does with care, grace, and compassion. Her dedication to helping children and families shines through in every interaction, and we're so grateful to have her on our team.

Please join us in wishing Cindy the happiest of birthdays! We hope your day is as wonderful as you are!

08/04/2026

It’s almost back-to-school season, and we’re excited to help equip the children and families we serve with the supplies they need to start the school year with confidence!

In this video, our Intake Coordinator, Alyssa, shares the school supply items we still need. Every donated backpack, notebook, and box of crayons helps a child feel prepared, supported, and ready for a fresh start. Thank you for helping us make this possible!

Save the date for the 20th Annual Bids & Bites Gala on Friday, November 6, 2026, at Pigeon Creek Event Center!This year'...
07/30/2026

Save the date for the 20th Annual Bids & Bites Gala on Friday, November 6, 2026, at Pigeon Creek Event Center!

This year's theme, Bids & Bites in Bloom, celebrates the hope, healing, and growth that become possible when a community comes together to protect children. Because every child deserves the opportunity to grow up safe, supported, and free to flourish.

Enjoy an unforgettable evening featuring our Buy-A-Line Auction, live auction, inspiring stories, and a celebration of 20 years of growing hope, protecting children, and strengthening families through Bids & Bites.

Sponsorship opportunities and tickets are coming soon!

Together, We Flourish.

What if one of the most powerful ways to protect children is by strengthening your relationship with them?That's the hea...
07/28/2026

What if one of the most powerful ways to protect children is by strengthening your relationship with them?

That's the heart of Olley - a research-based program that equips parents, caregivers, grandparents, teachers, coaches, and other trusted adults with practical tools to help children feel safe, connected, and supported.

The Olley Way encourages adults to:
*Be the steady one by managing your own emotions.
*Lead with connection, knowing relationships come first.
*Listen with curiosity to understand what's beneath a child's behavior.
*Establish and enforce healthy boundaries around bodies, technology, and trusted access.
*Build a network of safe, caring adults so children always have someone to turn to.

At the Children's Advocacy Center, we know prevention begins long before a child ever needs our services. It starts with caring adults who intentionally create safe, trusting relationships where children can thrive.

We're excited to share that Olley will soon be coming to our community through the Children's Advocacy Center! In the meantime, contact our Prevention and Outreach Director Julie at [email protected] with questions or inquiries.

Yesterday, Tricia from Trans-Matic stopped by with a HUGE donation of items for Cora's Care Closet, along with an incred...
07/22/2026

Yesterday, Tricia from Trans-Matic stopped by with a HUGE donation of items for Cora's Care Closet, along with an incredibly generous monetary gift. The timing couldn't have been more perfect!

Cora's Care Closet exists because we know the financial impact of child sexual abuse can be significant, especially when the person causing harm is also someone a family relies on for income. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we're able to help meet basic needs so families can focus on what matters most: healing.

Right now, we're running low on some of our most-needed items:
🧺 Laundry detergent
🧻 Toilet paper
🧼 Dish soap
🧽 General cleaning spray
🧻 Paper towels

We're also gearing up for our annual Back-to-School Drive through Cora's Care Closet! School supply needs include:
🎒 Backpacks
📓 Notebooks
📁 Two-pocket folders
✏️ Pencil pouches
📚 3-ring binders
💧 Reusable water bottles
🎧 Headphones
🥪 Lunchboxes

You can shop directly from our Amazon Wish List: https://a.co/0d83p7FJ or donations can be dropped off at 12125 Union St., Holland. Interested in hosting a collection drive? We'd love to partner with you! Contact Mitch at [email protected].

Together, we can help ensure every child and family has the support they need to heal.

Address

12125 Union Street
Holland, MI
49424

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 3pm

Telephone

+16163936123

Website

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