In 1997 a task force was formed by concerned citizens of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit to coordinate and centralize the activities of all agencies involved in the intervention and prevention of child abuse. The process of evaluating the systems in place at the time led to the realization that children were often re-victimized by the very organizations attempting to help them. It was recognized that children were often interviewed multiple times by different agencies and by individuals with varied levels of experience in dealing with children and abuse issues.

Over the next two years, the task force sought to educate themselves about the establishment of a children’s advocacy center. They wrote grants and raised money in the community to support this mission. In October of 1998 the CAC-LMJC began its fiscal year with funds from the Children’s Justice Act Grant. In April 1999, Dr. Robert Jones, CEO and President of Hutcheson Medical Center contributed the use of a beautiful home for the CAC-LMJC. In June 1999 the CAC-LMJC hosted an Open House and the center officially opened and began providing services to the children of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit.

Nearly 5000 cases later, the CAC-LMJC looks forward to being a continued vital force in the fight against child abuse.