About Us
Who We AreThe Children’s Advocacy Center of Caldwell County, Inc.—doing business as Robin’s Nest—is a non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation that coordinates resources to serve children with lived experiences of maltreatment. We are committed to childhood free of abuse and organize our work in partnership with other local agencies committed to protection of our children.
The name “Robin’s Nest” evokes images of safety, security, and caring — elements that are fundamental to our work. Staff and local agencies work closely together to coordinate services and transform crisis into healing, hope, and justice for children and non-offending family members. We work with our primary partners – law enforcement, DSS, the District Attorney’s Office, and mental health – to decrease trauma for children with these lived experiences.
History
History of the cac movement
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.
https://www.nationalcac.org/history/
History of robin's nest
In 1985, at the same time that Bud Cramer was creating the CAC Model, Caldwell County community leaders discussed the need for a Children’s Advocacy Center to support child victims of sexual and severe physical abuse. Numbers of children needing services were increasing significantly, approaching 100 annually. In the summer of 2009, a multi-disciplinary team was formed to create a plan to move the vision to reality and over the next 10 months, planners developed an Inter-Agency Agreement among partner agencies and completed paperwork to become a state-recognized corporation.
From January to April 2010, these planners submitted a grant to fund the foundation of Robin’s Nest, submitted official paperwork to become a 501(c)3 non-profit (granted March 1st, 2010), organized the Board of Directors and hired Ervil Anderson, Executive Director, and Valerie Harvey, Administrator. In August 2010, Robin’s Nest began official work as a CAC in temporary offices in the Fidelity Building.
Foothills Services, Inc., deeded the building at 1051 Harper Ave. to Robin’s Nest as a gift in October of 2010. Individual and foundation donors stepped up and provided the funds to allow for extensive renovations. The Board contracted for therapeutic counseling and child advocacy and in July of 2011, Robin’s Nest CAC began service delivery from the first floor of 1051 Harper Avenue, Lenoir. Intake, crisis counseling reviews, medical evaluations, case review by multi-disciplinary team, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) became available through a Kate B. Reynolds grant. Final renovations, including the second floor, were completed by the summer of 2012.
Ervil Anderson and her staff worked diligently to meet and exceed national accreditation standards. In July 2013, Ervil welcomed the National Children’s Alliance Accreditation Site Visit, and Robin’s Nest received approval in October.
After Ervil’s retirement, and a three-year interim leadership, Robin’s Nest hired Shellie Bowlin in June 2017. Under her leadership, Robin’s Nest has transitioned from a contracted to a staff Child and Family Advocate position, hired a Community Education and Outreach Specialist, as well as a Medical Provider, contracted with two trained clinical therapists and successfully achieved re-accreditation.
We are excited for the next chapter in the History of Robin’s Nest!
