In 1985, Former Congressman Robert E. “Bud” Cramer (AL), who was then a District Attorney in Madison County, Alabama, saw the need to create a better system to help abused children. The social service and the criminal justice systems, at the time, were not working together in an effective manner that children could trust, adding to the children’s emotional distress, and creating a segmented, repetitious, and often frightening experience for the child victims. (nationalcac.org)
The Jefferson Children’s Advocacy Center’s Story
In November of 1988, a group of representatives from agencies dealing with child sexual and severe physical abuse cases met to discuss Jefferson Parish’s response to child abuse investigations and treatment. As a result, a Child Victims Task Force was developed to increase the effectiveness of dealing with these most challenging of cases. After becoming aware of an existing program successfully operating and effectively reducing trauma to child victims, then District Attorney Mr. John Mamoulides called a meeting on May 4, 1989 to discuss the possibility of creating a program modeled after the National CAC’s program in Huntsville, Alabama. After many hours of meetings, discussions and collaboration among agencies, the Jefferson Children’s Advocacy Center was formed and opened its doors in November 1991, as the first fully operational CAC in the state of Louisiana and the seventh in the United States.
Within the walls of our modest home on Lavoisier Street, 8,160 young hearts found their voice, shared their stories, and began their journeys towards healing. It was with mixed emotions that we embarked on a journey to expand our services, driven by the unwavering commitment to provide a larger scope of services to more children in need all under one roof.
In September 2023, following years of dedicated efforts, successful fundraising, significant renovations, and strong community support —largely facilitated by the Jefferson Parish Council— the Jefferson CAC has established its new headquarters in a freshly revamped 5,000 sq. ft. facility located in Terrytown. This facility proudly operates as the John M. Mamoulides Jefferson Children’s Advocacy Center, bringing together all services for child abuse victims in a cohesive environment, fostering a unified sanctuary for healing and support.
