Child Advocacy Center asks Smyrna council for help funding larger facility, outlines $7 million goal

The Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford County asked the Smyrna Town Council at its workshop to consider assistance as the center pursues a larger facility and a $7,000,000 capital campaign.

Sharon DeBoer, speaking as part of the child protective investigative team presentation, described current operations and capacity limits and introduced a group of partners who outlined service needs and the campaign ask. "We are very blessed in Rutherford County to have outstanding law enforcement," DeBoer said, later noting the center's space is approximately 1,800 square feet and cannot accommodate the staff and interview rooms the work requires.

Why it matters: the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) conducts forensic interviews and coordinates multi-agency responses to child abuse, and presenters said a larger, dedicated facility would reduce repeated interviews of children, consolidate services and shorten family travel for forensic exams. The CAC provides services to Rutherford and Cannon counties, serves many Murfreesboro cases and partners directly with the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and law enforcement.

Forensic and investigative staff described how the CAC functions. Elizabeth Benton, a forensic interviewer, said the CAC performs "legally defensible, child-led" interviews that can be admissible in court. Jennifer Head and Christina Moody of the Department of Children’s Services said DCS treats child protective services as a first responder and relies on CAC forensic interviews for severe cases. Jennings Jones, Rutherford County district attorney, told council that CAC interviews are "an absolutely essential piece" of prosecution and that the center saves law enforcement and the county the expense of maintaining certified interviewers in each agency.

Campaign and funding details: Kristen Demas, co-chair of the CAC capital campaign, said the center's current operating footprint is roughly 1,800 square feet with 13 staff members and two trained forensic interviewers; the campaign seeks 7,000–8,000 square feet to add at least two forensic interview rooms, office space for the investigative team, and space for partner services such as forensic medical exams. Demas said the CAC's current budget target is $7,000,000 but the campaign is looking to reduce that amount where possible by renovating an existing building rather than building from the ground up.

Financial commitments and pledges cited in the presentation: Rutherford County has pledged $1,000,000, presenters said; campaign organizers reported private pledges of about $1,700,000 to date and said they have not yet publicly announced the campaign. Demas said the county's $1,000,000 is set aside and would be requested at the end of the county's fiscal year once additional funds are raised. The group also invited council members to tour the CAC facility at 8 a.m. on the Tuesday after Labor Day.

Council response and next steps: Council members thanked presenters and signaled that staff and the police department would discuss the request internally. No formal motion or municipal funding commitment was recorded in the workshop discussion; CAC leaders asked the town to consider participation when the council takes formal agenda action. The CAC said all services are free, bilingual assistance is available, and families can return for services with no deadline.

Ending: CAC leaders emphasized the center’s role in multidisciplinary response and urged the town's continued partnership. The presenters left contact information and a campaign website (cacredford.org) for residents interested in donating or learning more.