The Martin House Children’s Advocacy Center nears $6.25MM goal

Learn how The Martin House Children’s Advocacy Center is nearing its $6.25MM capital campaign goal to build a new facility, expand its staff, and provide timely services to children and families across East Texas.

The Martin House Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) serves children and families affected by abuse across Gregg, Harrison, Marion, and Upshur counties in East Texas.

The organization provides a child-focused setting where children and families can receive coordinated services following abuse, including forensic interviews and counseling. CAC currently serves more than 900 children and families each year.

The Challenge:

CAC had been discussing the need for a new facility for years. Eventually, the limitations of its existing space made expansion increasingly urgent.

The organization currently operates from approximately 4,000 square feet of space in duplexes. CAC had reached the point where there was simply no room to add the staff needed to meet growing demand.

The consequences extended far beyond an overcrowded office. Children needing counseling faced a six-month waiting list.

“When kids are hurting, they need help as soon as possible, without delays,” CEO Roxanne Stevenson explained.

CAC needed a facility that would allow the organization to grow its team, increase access to counseling, and create spaces designed around the distinct needs of children receiving forensic and therapeutic services.

The organization launched its One Child’s Future capital campaign with an ambitious goal: $6.25MM to build a new 10,000-square-foot Children’s Advocacy Center.

The Solution:

Capital Campaign Pro paired Roxanne and the CAC team with Advisor Kent Stroman, who provided strategic counsel, encouragement, and ongoing guidance as the organization moved its largest fundraising effort forward.

Working with Kent, CAC developed the strategy and structure needed to pursue its $6.25MM goal while building support among donors, community leaders, and public partners.

The campaign received an early boost from a $1MM allocation in local ARPA funding. From there, CAC continued building momentum through major gifts, community support, and fundraising initiatives.

“Our campaign consultant, Kent Stroman, is phenomenal. His wealth of knowledge, positive focus, and ongoing encouragement kept our campaign moving forward.”

Roxanne Stevenson, CEO, The Martin House Children’s Advocacy Center

As the campaign progressed, Kent helped the team stay focused on its goal and work through the challenges that accompany a major capital fundraising effort.

The Impact:

CAC has now secured more than 94% of its $6.25MM campaign goal, leaving approximately $300,000 to raise.

Even before the final dollars are secured, that support has allowed the organization to move its vision from plans on paper to construction. CAC broke ground on its new facility in January 2026, with completion expected in spring 2027.

The new 10,000-square-foot center will nearly triple the organization’s current space and is designed to significantly increase its capacity to serve children and families. Key improvements will include:

• Space to grow the CAC team from approximately 14 to 25 staff members
• Four therapy rooms for individual counseling and a large room for group counseling to expand access
• Three forensic interview rooms
• Three observation rooms
• Separate waiting areas for forensic interview and therapy clients
• Additional capacity for prevention programs
• More room to serve children and families throughout Gregg, Harrison, Marion, and Upshur counties

For CAC, the ultimate impact will not be measured in square footage. A larger facility means the organization can hire more staff, provide more counseling, and help reduce the amount of time children must wait to receive services.

“Capital Campaign Pro’s guidance gave us the tools we needed to create a place where even more kids will find safety, support, and hope for a new beginning. I’m forever grateful for your partnership and the difference you made for families in our community.”

Roxanne Stevenson, CEO, The Martin House Children’s Advocacy Center

Looking Ahead:

With construction underway and more than 94% of its campaign goal already committed, CAC is approaching the finish line of a project years in the making.

When the new center opens, the organization will have the space to nearly double its staff, expand counseling and prevention programs, and serve more children and families throughout East Texas.

Most importantly, CAC will be better equipped to address the problem that helped inspire the One Child’s Future campaign in the first place: children who have experienced abuse should not have to wait months to receive the help they need.