Program Spotlight: Children’s Advocacy Center

Connections: A Center for Healthy Families, originally established as the Children’s Advocacy Center of Grays Harbor in 1999, has always been committed to the well-being of children and families in both Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties. Its mission is clear: to cultivate healthy families, safeguard children, and connect the community to services.

In 2023, the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC), one of Connections’ cornerstone programs, served 126 children and families right here in our local community. Each child is welcomed into a safe, trauma-informed space where they can share their story and begin the path toward healing. And thanks to the generosity of local quilters and community members, every child leaves with a handmade quilt and teddy bear — reminders that they are cared for and supported by their community.

The CAC also educates and trains mandated reporters — teachers, caregivers, and other adults — so abuse is recognized sooner and children can be protected before trauma deepens. Recently, the team partnered with the Quinault Indian Nation to provide training for 75 adults. Equipping more adults with the tools to recognize and report abuse strengthens the entire community’s ability to keep children safe.

Providing these services isn’t simple or inexpensive. On average, it costs about $3,300 to fully support one child and their family — from the first interview through counseling referrals, advocacy, and follow-up. Yet government funding only covers a fraction of that cost. Cuts to VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) funding have widened the gap, putting at risk the advocates who walk with families through the justice system.

That’s where United Way of Grays Harbor steps in. Your support helps sustain advocacy services, ensuring children and families have someone to walk with them through trauma, connect them to resources, and make sure no child slips through the cracks.

This work is also made stronger through the generosity of our local community. Local quilters, schools, banks, and service clubs step up to support Connections directly, reminding children and families that they are not alone. Together, these efforts ensure that every child has both immediate comfort and lasting advocacy.

Without the CAC, families in Grays Harbor would have to travel out of the county for these critical services. To ease that burden, Connections also operates a satellite site in Queets (Quinault Indian Nation), ensuring children can access help close to home.

Together, we can ensure every child has a safe place to be heard — and every family has the support they need to heal and thrive.

United is the Way we protect children and help them thrive. Want to help keep it going?

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