About Us

Our Mission:

We will ensure that children suspected of child abuse are not re-victimized by the system designed to protect them. The Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center will provide a multi-disciplinary team response to allegations of child abuse in a safe and child friendly facility.

Core Components of the CAC:

Child-Appropriate facility - comfortable, private child-friendly setting
Forensic Interview - fact finding, recorded child interview by professionally trained interviewers
Medical Evaluations - Specialized medical professionals providing a forensic and treatment focused medical examination
Hair Follicle Testing - to test for children being exposed to or ingesting illegal drugs. CAC staff collects hair samples and sends them to the United States Drug Laboratory for testing
Therapeutic Intervention - providing referrals to treatment services
Victim Support/Advocacy - education, support and referrals to the child and family
Case Review - team discussion, sharing of information, status of case, system improvements
Case Tracking - process for monitoring case progress and tracking

Benefits for the Children We Serve:

A child focused, child friendly facility
The trauma experienced by abused children is reduced
Children receive prompt and ongoing services to support them in the initial disclosure and as the case moves through the system
Allegations of abuse are completely investigated, producing more usable information
More offenders are held accountable because of coordinated investigative and interview procedures
Professionals receive specialized ongoing training and are better able to meet the needs of abused children

Development of the Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center:

In 2003 eleven children in Nebraska died from some form of child abuse. With this startling fact, former Governor Johanns formed the Children's Task Force that was made up of 36 individuals from across the state of Nebraska. Their task was to take a look at Nebraska's child welfare system and provide the Governor with information on improving the system. These individuals held public forums and focus groups across the state and with the information gathered the Task Force brought several recommendations back to Governor Johanns. One of the recommendations was to expand availability of Child Advocacy Centers (CAC) in Nebraska. Through research it was recognized that the Centers provided a safe and neutral place for investigation and intervention services to take place, reducing trauma a child can suffer following disclosure and the subsequent investigation and intervention process. It was noted that CACs were also enhancing coordination between community professionals involved by using a multi-disciplinary team approach, this resulting in better case tracking and a higher number of cases being successfully prosecuted.

In May of 2004 individuals from the Lincoln County Attorney's Office, area law enforcement agencies, the Department of Health and Human Services, mental health and medical professionals, victim advocates and concerned citizens formed a Task Force to discuss the need of a CAC in Mid-West Nebraska. The group pursued the state funding and the city of North Platte was soon chosen to house the seventh CAC in Nebraska.

A Board of Directors was formed with responsibilities of overseeing ongoing business practices of the CAC, including hiring and managing the Executive Director, assisting the Executive Director with setting and implementing administrative policies, overseeing program and fiscal operations, assisting with fundraising efforts and promoting and representing the CAC in public relations.

On October 1, 2004 the Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center became incorporated, in April of 2005 the CAC Executive Director, LeeAnn Nielsen was hired and the Bridge of Hope CAC eventually became a free standing non-profit corporation with a 501 C3 status.

The Facility:

In April of 2005 work began on a Capital Campaign in order to fund the purchase of a facility that would serve as the Bridge of Hope CAC. With news spreading about the CAC project and the benefits it would have for children reporting child abuse, an individual donor came forward and in October of 2005 purchased and donated a home to be used as the CAC facility.

This beautiful four story Victorian home would need to undergo extensive renovations to meet code requirements in order to occupy the home as a business. Community members, businesses and organizations came together to accomplish the needed renovations to meet all city, building, fire and handicap accessible codes. In February of 2007 the center opened their doors and provided services that very day.

This Victorian home, built in the 1900's consists of 5,302 square feet of old charm and character. As a child/caregiver(s) enters the center they are provided with a sense of support, as community members who have donated time, materials or financial support are recognized with their name painted on a special star and displayed on the wall in warm country colors. The main waiting room is the room where team members are introduced to the child/caregiver, this room offers a pleasant and safe environment, allowing young children and adolescents a separate waiting area, recognizing their developmental needs to be treated differently. The facility's decor is represented through a child's eyes, with paintings of children from days gone by and a mural of an antique toy store painted on the wall of the small children's waiting room. Safe and age appropriate toys and materials exist throughout the facility. Two separate interview rooms have been designed to meet the needs of smaller age children and adolescent age children, taking into consideration the comfort level for sitting arrangements, safety concerns and age appropriate decorations. The CAC medical room is located on the third floor and consists of all equipment and supplies needed to conduct sexual assault medical examinations.

Counties We Serve:

The Bridge of Hope provides coordination assistance and support for child abuse investigation and treatment teams in the following counties of Nebraska: Arthur, Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Grant, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Keith, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Perkins, Red Willow and Thomas.

Forensic Interviews and Medical Evaluations at the Child Advocacy Center are conducted only upon referral from law enforcement or Health and Human Services