About Us

Our History

In 2004, a Development Committee was formed in Monongalia County to lay the groundwork to develop and open the Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center (MCCAC). This committee visited other child advocacy centers in the state, made contact with the Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center for training materials, and obtained a Benedum Foundation Start-Up Grant for 2005. Additionally, 800 square feet of office space was identified to first house the MCCAC. MDT members attended a Finding Words training in the Fall of 2004 to prepare for the opening of the Center.

In 2004, an Inter-Agency Agreement was signed between MDT members in the community. Dr. Laura Capage was hired in February 2005 as the Executive Director and began organizing and preparing to open the Center. A protocol was developed in the spring of 2005 with our MDT (e.g., child protection workers, law enforcement, prosecutors, medical professionals, victim advocates, and mental health professionals) on responding to child abuse cases in Monongalia County. The Center opened on April 28, 2005. In May 2005, a Board of Directors was formed for the MCCAC, and Board Bylaws were adopted. Additionally, the MCCAC became incorporated in August 2005. In the fall of 2005, the Director and Board established financial, personnel, and operation policies/ procedures. Also, in the fall of 2005 the MCCAC expanded to 1600 square feet of rented space to accommodate the growing need for its services.

 Initially, the MCCAC was under the financial umbrella of the Monongalia County Victim/ Witness Assistance Program. In 2006, the MCCAC became an independent non-profit organization, and on July 1, 2006 the MCCAC became financially independent.

After years of looking for a permanent home, we built a 2800 square foot Center in 2012. We moved into our new location on the Greenbag Road on February 14, 2013. At that time we also expanded our programming and added a Community Education Program and Preventative Care Program in addition to the Child Advocacy Center Program. In 2018, we started our DEC program. In 2021 we once again were outgrowing our space and added 700 square feet to our Greenbag Road property.

 

Staff

Dr. Laura Capage, Ph. D.

Executive Director/Licensed Psychologist

Lexy Stimmell, AS

Administrative Assistant

Tracie Dotson

Office Manager

Tamala LaBarge, MS

Lead Family Advocate/Forensic Interviewer

Taylor Shultz, BS

Director of Awareness and Development

Kelsey Lillard, BS

Family Advocate/Forensic Interviewer

Christina Petak

Administrative Assistant

Sydney Purtiman, BS

Family Advocate/Forensic Interviewer

Destiny Lusk, BA

Family Advocate/Forensic Interviewer

Billie Keechel, MSW, LSW

Therapist

Jody Monday, MSW

Therapist

Elizabeth Tomasik, MA, LPC

Therapist

Alicia DeWitt, MSW

Therapist

OUR BUDGET

Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

Just as our work to help children and families heal from abuse is a public-private partnership, our funding represents a mix of private and government sources.

In 2021, our revenue was $686,989. We receive funding from government sources and private sources, including individuals, grants and our special events.

OUR FUNDERS

Our work to help children and families heal from abuse is made possible by public-private partnerships. We are grateful to receive funding from government grants, local agencies, generous individuals, corporate sponsors, and private foundations. In 2022 we received funding from the following entities:

Local Agencies:

  • United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties
  • Monongalia County Board of Education

Foundation and Corporate Partners:

  • United Bank
  • Your Community Foundation
  • Mon Health Systems
  • Cheat Lake Family Dentistry
  • Yost Hearing
  • Shaffer Madia Law
  • Affordable Landscaping Supllies
  • Slavey & Shumaker LLC
  • Fat Tire Cycle LLC
  • All Kinds of Clean
  • PNC Bank
  • MVB Bank
  • Virtus Wealth Solutions
  • Mountaineer Harley Davidson
  • Van Deysen Law
  • Wanderlust Mobile Tanning
  • Mills Group
  • Just Tech
  • Bowles Rice LLP
  • Coldwell Banker Alliance Realty
  • Trilogy Innovations, Inc.
  • Affordable Dentures
  • University Toyota
  • Monica Haddad Mediation
  • Action Facilities Management 
  • Unlocked Potential, PLLC
  • March-Westin
  • Coastal Drilling East

To report abuse, please call CPS at 1-800-352-6513 or your local law enforcement agency.