About Us
The Children’s Advocacy Center: The Emmy Haney House (CAC) was established as a private, non-profit agency in 1991 to provide a safe and caring environment for abused children to receive the services they need in one comprehensive facility. Through our services, we help victims of child sexual abuse through the trauma they have endured. Our goal with every child is that they lead normal, healthy, productive lives, thereby breaking the cycle of abuse. The CAC is uniquely designed to serve children who have experienced the unimaginable.
The CAC is nationally-accredited by the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) and provides forensic interviews, medical examinations, therapy, and family advocacy. These services are offered at no charge. Children referred by the Department of Children’s Services or law enforcement. The CAC also provides community education programs to parents, educators, and youth-serving professionals, as well as children’s groups.
The CAC facilitates the teamwork essential for effective intervention and healing. The CAC becomes a location where all professionals and agencies responsible for investigating and providing services can provide a coordinated response to the abuse on a child’s developmentally appropriate level. This prevents the potential re-victimization of the child by requiring the child to travel to many different locations to be interviewed and served by many different adult “strangers.”
To report suspected or disclosed abuse, call 1-877-54-ABUSE (22873) or visit the TN Department of Children’s Services reporting portal online.
CAC Executive Director
Kristen Pavlik McCallie
Kristen was born and raised in Wolcott, Connecticut, a suburb between Hartford and New Haven. Kristen is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut where she completed her Masters of Arts in Women Studies, where she had a concentration in violence against women.
In 2015, Kristen relocated to Chattanooga to be closer to family, and was hired at the CAC as the Community Outreach Coordinator. In 2017, after being the Interim ED for about a year Kristen was made the Executive Director of the CAC. During her time there she has supported the 15 staff in serving children who are victims of child sexual abuse in Hamilton County.
Kristen is an active member of the Tennessee Chapter of Children’s Advocacy Centers Board of Directors and enjoys taking in Chattanooga’s growing culinary scene.
CAC Board of Directors
Officers
- Gary Behler, Chair
- Chris Finch, Treasurer
- Miles Huff, Executive Committee
Members
- Crystle Carrion
- Mike Dimitru
- Shannon Edmondson
- Ivanny Franklin
- Rachel Hargis
- Melissa Hartung
- Paulo Hutson
- Amanda Mayo Leming
- Madelyn Selonke
- Tamara Steward
- Terri Ann Weathers
- Anthony Young
Honorary Lifetime Member
- Emmy Haney, Lifetime Member