Over 25 Years of Impact

In 1997, a small group of people identified a need in our community to improve how child sexual abuse cases were handled. Child victims were often asked to recount their abuse multiple times to different professionals in environments that were less than ideal, such as the back of a police car or at home with the offender nearby. After extensive research, they decided to replicate the Child Assessment Center model to accomplish their goal of better coordinated care for victims. Representatives from the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Holland Police Department, and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services attended a training in California on the multidisciplinary response to child sexual abuse investigation, assessment, and treatment. 

The guiding documents were prepared, a facility was donated by the City of Holland, a board was formed, funding was raised for the first year of operation, and in the spring of 1998 a director was hired along with a clerical person and a treatment specialist. The director took over the challenge of transforming an old blue house that had been vacant for several years into a Child Assessment Center. A multi­disciplinary team was identified, the board was expanded and the first case was served in August of 1998.

The Center operated in the blue house for seven years, and in 2004 a successful capital campaign allowed the Center to move to a state of the art facility. In 2018, another successful capital campaign was completed allowing for a significant expansion. 

As we continue to increase our impact and look ahead, we remain connected to our origin story. We honor the contributions of our Legacy Circle as their vision, planning, and relentless dedication to the children we serve has allowed us to become the organization we are today.