Children are often overlooked in the chaos of criminal investigations. The Gingerbread House Children's Advocacy Center, a nonprofit serving Northwest Louisiana, was founded to change that. Since 1998, child abuse advocacy has been the forefront of our mission as we work to lessen the trauma that child abuse victims experience during investigations. Children need a safe and supportive environment during these difficult times, and the Gingerbread House is here to help provide just that.
Our child abuse advocacy center is located in Shreveport, Louisiana, but we offer all of our services FREE of charge to child abuse victims, child witnesses to violent crimes, child sex trafficking victims, and their non-offending caregivers throughout all of Northwest Louisiana.
We work together alongside 26 agencies, including law enforcement investigators and the Department of Children and Family Services, to help children feel safe and heard during forensic interviews and throughout the entire investigation, prosecution, and treatment phase of cases.
Trauma effects the whole family, not just the victim, and at the Gingerbread House we are here to support the non-offending caregivers of every child victim with a listening ear, resources and referrals to other agencies, or even getting them connected with one of outreach programs. Find out more about our Family Advocacy Program.
At the Gingerbread House, we are proud to offer the only Child Life Program at a Children's Advocacy Center in the state of Louisiana. To learn more about how our Certified Child Life Specialists lessen the anxiety of our child victims, click here!
Our Anti-Human Trafficking Care Coordinator is trained to work with human trafficking victims with 24-to-48 hour alongside her emergency response team in order to provide them with immediate assistance and resources to help them into safety.
Our prevention education program, Knowledge is Power(c), works to empower children and adults of all ages to stand up for themselves (or the children around them) and speak out against actions or words that make them feel unsafe. We teach not only about body safety, but also on internet safety, safe relationships and professional trainings on Mandated Reporting and more!
918 children received forensic interviews, multidisciplinary investigations, child life, and family advocacy services, averaging 74 newly identified child victims per month.
7 confirmed child sex trafficking victims and 198 children high-risk/suspected for sex trafficking received comprehensive direct care services and case management.
189 child victims and their non-offending caregivers received trauma-informed counseling services.
As part of our prevention efforts, over 50,397 children and adults participated in 723 educational outreach sessions.
11 Multidisciplinary Team Case Review meetings were held, where 907 child abuse cases were reviewed to ensure coordination of services across the investigation, treatment, and prosecution phases of each case.
Providing child victims the support, encouragement and protection they need is crucial. The Gingerbread House works to...
Our nonprofit child abuse center was founded in 1998 to protect young individuals from harm both inside and outside of their own homes. Reach out to us today for more information about our work.
To lessen the trauma experienced by child abuse victims, child witnesses, and protected persons throughout the investigation, prosecution, and treatment phases of cases.
Shreveport, LA and Caddo, Bossier, Webster, DeSoto, Bienville, Claiborne, Natchitoches, Sabine, and Red River Parishes