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HOW WE HELP KIDS FIND HEALING AND JUSTICE

The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center is a comprehensive, child-focused program that offers a highly effective, one-stop approach to child abuse investigations. The agency allows law enforcement, child protection professionals, prosecutors, and the mental health communities to work together to assist victims of child abuse and sexual assault in a cohesive manner.

The Bridge Proactively:

  • Engages community partners
  • Implements impartial investigative techniques
  • Coordinates case tracking
  • Makes counseling referrals
  • Educates victims and non-offending family members on victims’ rights, resources and options
  • Offers a comfortable, private, child-friendly setting to conduct interviews
  • Focuses on the health and future of child victims
  • Strives to improve investigations while reducing harmful effects on children and families

*These steps reduce duplication of efforts between agencies involved in the investigation, expedites prosecution, increases conviction rates of offenders, and helps victims onto the path of recovery.

Forensic Services

Interviews

The Bridge’s highly-trained, professional forensic interviewers specialize in taking testimony of children using non-leading techniques. This approach provides an accurate and consistent account from the child victim. Children should not have to relive the negative experience of witnessing a violent crime or experiencing criminal child abuse over and over – this forensic interview process reduces the negative impact of relating the child’s experience. Follow this link to find Frequently Asked Questions as you prepare for your appointment at The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center.

About Your Appointment

Examinations

There are occasions when a physical exam is deemed necessary. When needed, these examinations are coordinated by The Bridge staff and conducted at our center. This approach lessens trauma experienced by the child and family by eliminating a visit to the emergency room. Follow this link for more information about forensic examinations.

Learn More

Questions?

We have answers.

Education

The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center provides interactive and informative child abuse prevention and awareness training opportunities for:

Trainings are also offered on-site throughout the year in our Amarillo office and in our satellite office locations.

All education is provided free of charge thanks to generous donors from across the Texas Panhandle.

The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center is a registered provider through the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to offer Continuing Professional Education credits (CPE) to educators and continuing education to school board members in Texas.

*For Professionals working with Children Training, there is a minimum requirement of 15 attendees for in-house trainings and 25 attendees for out-of-house trainings.*

*All trainings are subject to staff availability.*

Professionals working with children in educational and childcare settings

Training Request

Multidisciplinary team members (law enforcement, prosecutors, contracting crisis centers and counselors, Department of Family Protective Services)

Training Request

Children Pre-K through 12th Grade

Training Request

Professional Education Schedule

2024 On-Site Bridge Education

Thursday, August 22 – 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Thursday October 17 – 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Annual Child Abuse Training outside of Amarillo

Clarendon – Saturday, September 14 – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

  • 111 W. 4th, Clarendon, TX 79226

Hereford – Saturday, September 14 – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

  • Hereford AC Room 103: Everett and Mabel McDougal Hinkson Memorial Campus

Pampa – Saturday, September 21 – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

  • Pampa ISD Administrative Building
Contact UsTraining Request

*The Bridge is a registered provider through the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to provide continuing education to school board members. The Bridge is also a registered provider through TEA to offer CPE hours to educators. Please contact us for more information at 806-372-2873.