Commissioners approve $50,000 for children’s advocacy

ELLIS COUNTY – The Ellis County Commissioners’ Court approved $50,000 last week with a nod to supporting the Ellis County Children’s Advocacy Center.

On Jan. 12, county commissioners approved the authorization of a payment to the Ellis County Children’s Advocacy Center.

It was in December, 2019 that a public-private partnership between Ellis County and the ECCAC was approved. This approval gave both entities the ability to provide critical community services as needed to children and families.

“This public-private partnership has proven itself crucial to serving the residents of our community throughout the high stress year of 2020,” said Ellis County Judge Todd Little.

The mission of ECCAC is to provide justice, hope, and healing to children and their families through a collaborative response towards child abuse.

This includes awareness, prevention, and protection. Services also include therapeutic sessions for child victims, siblings, and caregivers as well as child-centered play therapy, family therapy, and support and educational groups for children and parents. 

The advocacy center offices work with Police Departments, Child Protective Services, and the County and District Attorney’s Office.

The outcome of working with these departments are to provide a developmentally sensitive, legally sound and culturally competent forensic interview of possible child victims and witnesses. 

The 501(c)(3) non-profit has been in existence since 1999. 

“As a Commissioners’ Court, we proudly continue to invest in the mental health, support, and well-being of our Ellis County families and children,” Little concluded.