​Statistics

Since opening its doors in 1998, The Gingerbread House has served 17,177 child abuse victims through Forensic Interviews, Multidisciplinary Team Investigations, Child Life, and Family Advocacy.

• Year 2025: 977 children received forensic interviews, multidisciplinary investigations, child life, and family advocacy services, averaging 81 newly identified child victims per month.

Through therapy, the healing process can begin and further victimization can be prevented. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and other interventions are offered for child victims and their non-offending caregivers at the Gingerbread House by Licensed Clinicians at no cost to the victim's family.

• Year 2025: 167 Child Victims and their non-offending caregivers

The Gingerbread House believes Knowledge is Power and it is critical to provide prevention education to children and adults in our community. By educating children and adults in our community we can empower and encourage them to speak up if they see abuse or if any type of abuse has happened to them.

• Year 2025: 53,265 children and adults participated in 786 educational outreach sessions.

Through the Louisiana Child & Youth Trafficking Collaborative and in collaboration with the Louisiana Alliance of Children's Advocacy Centers, the Gingerbread House houses the Regional Child & Youth Trafficking Care Coordinator for the Shreveport Region. The Human Trafficking program provides intensive case management for at-risk and confirmed victims of child sex trafficking with the statewide goal of improving outcomes for child and youth victims of trafficking.

• Year 2022: 7 confirmed child sex trafficking victims, 116 suspected child sex trafficking victims, and 81 children at high-rick for sex trafficking.

A newly added program component under the administration of the Gingerbread House effective 07/01/2025, and in partnership with Ochsner LSU and LSUHS, medical exams for alleged child abuse victims are conducted on-site at the Cara Center by Dr. Jennifer Rodriguez, who is 1 of only 4 board-certified child abuse pediatricians in the State of Louisiana. Children are prepared for the exam by our Child Life team and forensic evidence, if present, can be collected to assist the investigation, while the child and family can be reassured about the child's physical well-being. Cara is an Irish word for "friend," and reflects the legacy of Sr. Rose Marie McDermott began so many years ago.

• Year 2025: Between July 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025, 172 children received pediatric forensic medical exams.

• 1 out of 10 children experience child sexual abuse before their 18th birthday.
• 400,000 children are sexually abused each year. That means 1 in 10 children faces the horror of sexual abuse.
• 90% of victims are abused by someone they know and trust.
• 60% are acquaintances like teachers, neighbors, or community leaders.
• 30% are immediate or extended family.
• Only 10% are stranger to the child.
• Only about 38% of child victims disclose the fact that they have been sexually abuse. Some never disclose.
• Only about 38% of children tell someone within the first year.
• About 75% of child pornography victims are living at home when they are photographed. Parents are often responsible.