Ways to give
Your gift creates a healing path to justice for kids and prevents child abuse throughout the Texas Panhandle.
Education
Child abuse prevention education offered free of charge for students.
Training Schedule
Recognize, Respond and Report Training for professionals offered free of charge
About Child Abuse
The more you know, the better protected our children will be. Learn about the different types of child abuse.
What to expect at the Bridge
The Bridge is not a Law Enforcement or Child Protective Service agency. We are a nonprofit that works alongside law enforcement and CPS to provide a neutral, child friendly environment. The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center staff are specially trained professionals who care deeply about every child who comes to the center. While you and your child are at The Bridge you will receive support and services that include:
- Your child will be asked questions by a highly-trained forensic interviewer who specializes in asking neutral, non-leading questions. This interview, which will be recorded, reduces the negative impact of your child having to share his/her story multiple times.
- If requested by investigators, specially trained nurses will complete a physical exam in a safe, child-friendly exam room.
- Compassionate family advocates will help your family by providing information and referrals to community resources. Bridge family advocates will also assist with Crime Victims Compensation applications during your visit.
- Every family who comes to The Bridge is offered referrals for specialized counselors for both your child and non-offending family members.
Have a heart
Ways that donors helped Panhandle children and families in 2023-2024
809
Adults received child abuse awareness and prevention education.
2580
Family Members received referrals and advocacy services.
5903
Children received child abuse awareness and prevention education.
937
Forensic Interviews were conducted by The Bridge.
275
Forensic Medical Exams were conducted by The Bridge.
The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center’s 34,725 square foot building will expand mental health and pediatric medical resources offered to Panhandle children experiencing physical and sexual abuse. The agency’s comprehensive, child-focused program offers a highly effective one-stop approach to child abuse investigations, and the new facility will further increase the agency’s capacity to enable law enforcement, child protective investigators, prosecutors, and the medical and mental health communities to work together to assist child victims in a collaborative and cohesive manner. The new facility is conveniently located in the Harrington Regional Medical Complex on a 6.6-acre tract of land.
This new facility is designed to children and their families in a safe, secure, neutral, and homelike environment while offering cutting-edge, holistic approach to these very sensitive cases. Each “wing” has controlled entry and enhanced security to ensure the safety of all areas, including parking areas.
Thank you to the generous donors listed below.
Foundations - $3,530,000 Pledged
The Mabee Foundation – Challenge Grant
The Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation
Amarillo National Bank
High Plains Christian Ministries Foundation
The Oeschger Family Foundation
Laura Viola Scott Charitable Trust
Mary E. Bivins Foundation
Anonymous Foundation
Louise Bowers Slentz Foundation
Bruckner Family Foundation
Harrington Cancer & Health Foundation
Children’s Miracle Network
Mays Foundation
Anonymous Foundation
Josephine Anderson Charitable Trust
M K Brown Foundation
The W.H. & Mary Ellen Cobb Charitable Trust
CJ & Syble Fowlston Charitable Trust
Gilliland Family Foundation
Kimble Foundation Trust
Waite and Genevieve Phillips Foundation
Ned O. and Linda G. Miller Charitable Trust
William O. & Louise H. Mullins Foundation
Corporations - $551,000 Pledged
Caviness Beef Packers, LTD
Shawn Morrison-Budweiser Distributing Co.
Atmos Energy
Intersect
Buc-cee’s LTD
First United Bank
America’s Best Thrift Store
Interstate Bank
Texas Auto Sales
Williams Boyce Agency
Bell Flight
Rocking T
Prosperity Bank
Underwood Law Firm
Individual - $698,196 Pledged
Amy Griffin
Chris Scharbauer
Blynn Weldon
The Gualtiere Family
Claudette L. Landess
Sherry Morrison
Bryson and Deanna Oeschger
Gayle Slaughter
Katy Roach
Ken Story
Christy Milton
Dr. and Mrs. Turner Caldwell
J.P. Mills
Churches - $50,000 Pledged
First Baptist Church of Amarillo
6.6 Acres in Medi Park
Harrington Regional Medical Complex
The Bridge
Children’s Advocacy Center
The Bridge is a founding member of Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, a membership organization of over 70 Texas child advocacy centers, and a fully accredited member of the National Children’s Alliance, a membership association of over 300 children’s advocacy centers.
The Bridge connects children to resources when they experience trauma or abuse. The Bridge works in the community to make it okay to talk about abuse, and to work against pretending it happens anywhere but The Panhandle. The Bridge works so that abusers will have no place to hide. The Bridge guides children to speak out, recover from abuse, and not be defined by it. The Bridge helps a child tell their story only one time, so they aren’t traumatized again, even by the very system that is helping them. By bringing multiple agencies together under one roof, the Bridge provides healing, resilience, and power for the children in the Panhandle… because every child deserves love, hope, and innocence.
What is CAC?
CAC’s are dedicated to ensuring that child victims and their families receive vital services at no cost. Because CAC’s in Texas are required to be governed by a local, community-based 501(c)(3) organization, they rely heavily on private dollars raised through foundation grants, individual and corporate gifts, civic and community support organizations, and special event fundraising.
The CAC Model
Children’s advocacy centers (CACs) provide a safe, child-friendly environment where law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, medical and mental health professionals may share information and develop effective, coordinated strategies sensitive to the needs of each unique case and child.
