Children's Advocacy Center of the Coastal Bend removed from designated service area; local center says children will continue to be served

The board president of the Children's Advocacy Center of the Coastal Bend told the Nueces County Commissioners Court on May 5 that the center had been removed from its designated service area by the statewide association and that local coordination is under way to maintain services for affected children.

Dr. Christina Nelson, who identified herself as board president for the CACCB, said the center "was notified by the Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas that Nueces County has been removed from CACCB's designated service area effective April 22." She read a prepared statement saying leadership at CACCB had investigated concerns about a matter handled by the center and had implemented corrective actions.

The CACCB statement, read by Nelson and citing executive director Clarissa Mora, said the Nueces County District Attorney's Office had sent a letter indicating that, once corrective measures are in place, the office will accept files involving CACCB interviews. The statement added that "Children who were previously receiving support from CACCB will continue to be able to do so" and that the CACCB was communicating with other children's advocacy centers to ensure new children and families are served.

Nelson told the court that in 2024 CACCB "provided services to over a thousand children across 10 counties, including 525 children from Nueces County, the majority of whom reside in Corpus Christi." She said the matter was still under review and that the CACCB would issue an updated statement after the review was completed.

Ending

Court members received the statement as public comment; no formal action was taken at the meeting. Court staff and the DA's office were described in the statement as parties in ongoing coordination to restore the county's designated service relationship if and when corrective steps are accepted.