Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center

The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center’s (ECCAC) has a critical mission in our community. To prevent child abuse and neglect, as well as protect children in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. They seek to restore the lives and futures of these impacted children. The organization provides services that intend to identify, treat and support children who are in abusive situations.

The Center’s child-friendly facility in Niceville houses a multidisciplinary team of child protection personnel, prosecutors, law enforcement, DCF, therapists, and ECCAC staff and volunteers. The Pierce Family Center in Walton County also offers the same personnel and services for Walton County children. Services are provided at no cost by ECCAC, a 501-C-3 non-profit organization.

ECCAC’s mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect, protect children in Okaloosa and Walton Counties, and restore the lives and futures of these impacted children. Both Centers house a multidisciplinary team of child protection personnel, prosecutors, law enforcement, DCF, therapists, staff and volunteers. Services are provided at no cost by the 501-C-3 non-profit organization.

Providing services and emotional support to child victims experiencing abuse, abandonment or neglect is the 24/7 job of the multi-disciplinary team of staff and volunteers. In ECCAC’s 17-year history, right at 11,000 children have received more than 43,000 services at no cost to include mental health therapy, crisis intervention, referrals to other community providers, interviews and medicals. They raise 60% of their annual budget for the two centers through special events, donations and community-sponsored fundraisers. The remainder of monies are generated through grant requests and governmental funding.

Both ECCAC Centers are in need of volunteers. For further information, including volunteer and donation opportunities, visit www.eccac.org or call 850-833-9237, ext. 283. If abuse is suspected, call the anonymous Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE.