[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 153 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1926]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING THE CHILD'S ADVOCACY CENTER FOR DENTON COUNTY ON THE 
                   GROUNDBREAKING OF ITS NEW FACILITY

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                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 24, 2008

  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Child's 
Advocacy Center for Denton County for breaking ground today on its new 
facility in Lewisville, TX. The CACDC has been helping heal the wounds 
of child abuse in the Denton area for over 10 years, and this new 
facility will allow the Center to increase its work to match the 
demands of a growing community.
  The CACDC began in 1994 as a task force comprised of representatives 
from the District Attorney's office, Child Protective Services, law 
enforcement, professionals in abuse-related fields, and community 
members. The Center became fully operational in 1997 as a safe place 
where child victims could be interviewed and counseled during 
investigations into child abuse. Today, the center is a non-profit 
agency governed by a volunteer board of directors.
  Prior to the formation of the Center, children were often subject to 
questioning in frightening places such as a police station. 
Investigators often lacked specialized training in child abuse issues, 
and there was no system in place to ensure that victims were offered 
treatment or referred to community resources. The CACDC provides a 
welcoming area to counsel victims of child abuse, is able to refer 
victims to other helpful community resources, and fights to ensure that 
abusers are held accountable for their wrongs. The Center is able to 
ease the pain and future negative impact of child abuse by giving 
children the care and encouragement they need to move forward after 
these traumatic events.
  The CACDC will now build a brand new 14,000 square foot building to 
use as its primary facility for dealing with child abuse cases. I am 
especially proud of all the community leaders, as well as members of my 
staff, who have helped make this dream a reality. I am honored to 
represent the people of the Child's Advocacy Center for Denton County 
in the 26th District of Texas, and I wish them the best of luck as they 
break ground today.




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