ABOUT US

PROGRAMS

• Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
• Children's Advocacy Center (CAC)
• Child Abuse Prevention
• Rainbow Room
• School Supply Drive
• Christmas Drive

Learn More About These Programs

CORE VALUES

• Children First
  - our actions are guided by a desire to do what is in the best interest of children
• Hospitality
  – we strive for our center to be a warm, safe and welcoming place for children, youth, families, volunteers, professionals and others.
• Personal Development
  – we encourage all children, youth, families, volunteers, team members, staff and board to learn and grow.
• Diversity & Teamwork
  – we value diversity and the strengths each person has to offer and we believe that by working together, everyone achieves more.
• Stewardship
  – we exercise responsibility and good judgment in the care and use of the center’s resources.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board President
Bill Wilson
   President, McCraw Oil

Board Vice-President
Cindy Bankston
   Executive Director, Glaser Family Charitable Foundation

Treasurer
Kelly Royse
   Managing Member, 4R Coatings LLC

Secretary
Mallory McBroom
   AVP, Assistant Branch Manager, CapTex

Dale Bordelon
   Community Representative

Prosecution Representative
Mark Briley
   Assistant Criminal District Attorney

Dana Coker
   Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Bonham

Stuart Courtney
   Pastor, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Bonham

Taylor Dalrymple
   Account Executive, Qualtrics

Law Enforcement Representative
Leigh Dixon
   Honey Grove Police Chief

Mike Lane
   Captain, Bells ISD Police Chief

CPS Representative
Jennifer Nichols
   Program Director of Investigations & Family Based Safety Services
   Texas Department of Family & Protective Services

Faith Rich
   Teacher, Dodd City ISD

STAFF

FCCC

• Kim Skidmore
  - Executive Director
• Amira Jabai
  - Director of Operations & Prevention
• Kesly Chacon
  - Administrative Assistant & Volunteer Coordinator

CASA

• Julie Luton
  - CASA Program Director
• Katie King
  - CASA Advocate Supervisor

Children's Advocacy Center

• Michelle Griffith
  - LPC-S, Registered Play Therapist, CAC Program Therapist
• Tyler Said
  - Director of CAC Programs
• Misty Woodlee
  - Family Advocate & MDT Specialist

AGENCY HISTORY

• August 1992 – Paula Spindle called Texas CASA for start-up materials
  

  February 1, 1993 - our first class of CASA volunteers were sworn-in by the 336th District Judge, Ray Grisham

• September 1992 – Received endorsement from the honorable Judge Ray Grisham; Steering Committee elected Board of Directors
• October 1992 – Articles of Incorporation & By-Laws were Written; endorsement from Child Protective Services received; & Dr. Rudy Churner donates office space
• November 9, 1992 – Office opens at 204 East Fifth in Bonham, Texas
• January 1993 – First volunteers trained at Collin County CASA
• February 1, 1993 – First CASA volunteers sworn-in at Fannin County court
• March 1993 – First training held in Fannin County
• April 8, 1993 – CASA appointed to our first case by Judge Ray Grisham, 336th District Court
• April 8, 1993 – Volunteers from first Fannin County class are sworn-in
• 1995 – Distribution of Christmas gifts becomes more organized
• 1997 – First School Supply Drive
• July 1999 – Children's Advocacy Center is started
• February 2000 – First Case Reviews held at the Children's Advocacy Center
• August 2000 – Interagency Agreement and Working Protocols were established and implemented for the Children's Advocacy Center
• December 2000 – First Forensic Interview conducted at the Children's Advocacy Center
• May 2002 – Capital Campaign to raise $150,000 to relocate the agency is kicked off.
• February 4, 2003 – Purchased 112 West Fifth Street in Bonham, Texas
• April 4, 2003 – Celebrated our Tenth Anniversary at 112 West Fifth Street and announced the achievement of our capital campaign goal.
• April 5, 2003 – Renovations of 112 West Fifth Street begin under the direction of volunteer general contractor Dugan Curtis.
• May 30 & 31, 2003 – Offices were closed to move from 204 East Fifth Street in Bonham.
• June 2, 2003 – Center re-opens at 112 West Fifth Street in Bonham.
• August 1, 2003 – Grand Opening celebration held at the new center.
• January 2004 – Groups for teenage victims of sexual abuse and their caregivers are started at the Children's Advocacy Center.
• February 20, 2004 – Grand opening of the Rainbow Room.
• April 2004 – First "Open Your Heart" annual campaign
• August 2004 – Agency name officially changed to Fannin County Children's Center
• August 2004 – Child abuse prevention programs presented to children in schools and day cares
• September 2005 – First annual "Justice Is Served"
• August 2006 – First "Grape Stomp" held at the Homestead Winery
• October 2007 – Court School program started
• February 2008 – "Stewards of Children" program started to educate adults about preventing and responding appropriately to child sexual abuse
• April 2009 – "No Excuse for Child Abuse" slogan was first used and the first “Stand Up For Kids” was held at the Fannin County Courthouse
• April 2011 – "Stand Up For Kids&" adds games and activities for kids
• February 2012 – "Recognizing and Reporting" classes started to educate adults about how to recognize and report signs of child abuse.
  

  New logo adopted in 2013

• April 2012 – Courage Group started to offer a free support group to women who were sexually abused as children
• 2013 – Celebrating 20 years of serving children!
• July 2013 – Mission statement updated to "promoting safety and improving the lives of abused and neglected children." We also adopted a new tag line of "prevent, advocate, heal."
• August 2013 – We adopted our new logo, pictured above right.
• January 2014 – renovations to the front part of the center to increase security
• January 2016 – added a full-time therapist to our staff
• August 7, 2017 – Render's first day as our Facility Dog
• November 8, 2017 – Render's first day to go to court with a child
• April 2018 – Celebrating 25 years of serving children!
• June 2018 – added second full-time therapist to staff
• September 2019 – added third full-time therapist to staff
• December 2019 – received a donation of about 8 acres of land, at the corner of Lee and Albert Broadfoot Streets in Bonham for building a new, larger facility
• June 2021 – Launched the Build the Dream capital campaign to raise $10 million to build a new, larger facility
• August 2021 – Render retired to stay with his handler and family

OUR MEMBERSHIPS

• Bonham Area Chamber of Commerce
• Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas
• Honey Grove Chamber of Commerce
• Leonard Chamber of Commerce
• National CASA
• Texas CASA

DIRECTIONS TO US

• In Bonham - we are located at 112 West Fifth Street, just half a block away from the northwest corner of the courthouse square. We are in the old Lone Star Gas Building, just across the street from the drive-thru of the American Bank of Texas.
• From Savoy, Bells, Sherman and other points west - take US Hwy 82 east to Bonham. Exit Hwy 78 (also called Center Street). Turn right at the stoplight after exiting the highway. Travel several blocks to the downtown square. Turn right at the courthouse square (Fifth Street). We will be on the right, just past the stop sign at Main Street.
• From Honey Grove, Paris and other points east - take Hwy 82 west to Bonham. Exit Hwy 78 (also called Center Street). Turn left at the stoplight after exiting the highway. Travel several blocks to the downtown square. Turn right at the courthouse square (Fifth Street). We will be on the right, just past the stop sign at Main Street.
• From Bailey, Leonard and other points south - take Hwy 78 to Bonham. When you reach the downtown square, turn left at the second stop light (Fifth Street). We will be on the right, just past the stop sign at Main Street.
• From Trenton, McKinney and other points south - take Hwy 121 to Bonham. In town the road will turn into Sam Rayburn. When you reach the downtown square, turn left at the stoplight at Main Street. Go one block, turn left on Fifth Street, look for us on the right.