Ed & Nancy Hanenburg Children's Advocacy Center

Ed & Nancy Hanenburg Children's Advocacy Center We exist to protect children, empower families, and bring hope and healing after child sexual abuse.

Child sexual abuse is an epidemic. 1:10 children before the age of 18 are sexually abused and Ottawa County is not immune. No single agency can possibly meet all the needs of sexually victimized children and their families. Taking child victims from agency to agency for multiple interviews traumatizes children and, in fact, re-victimizes them. The CAC is committed to providing a coordinated, multi-disciplinary team approach with Child Protective Services, law enforcement, prosecution, and mental/medical health professionals to get our clients justice in anyway we can. We provide programs and support services for child victims and their non-offending families at zero cost, for life, enabling them to heal emotionally and physically.

When a child tells you something that worries, scares, or surprises you, it can be hard to know what to say. You don't n...
09/10/2026

When a child tells you something that worries, scares, or surprises you, it can be hard to know what to say. You don't need the perfect words. What matters most is that your child feels heard, believed, and supported.

“I believe you.”
“Thank you for telling me.”
“This is not your fault.”

Take a breath and focus on staying calm and regulated. Your steady presence can help your child feel safe. Listen without pressing for more details, and remind them that they can always come to you with difficult things.

And remember: you don't have to figure out what comes next on your own. The Children's Advocacy Center is here to help children and families find support, resources, and next steps. Connect with us at www.cac-ottawa.org.

Happiest of birthdays to our smart, tech-savvy, super-sleuth Charlie! Charlie brings so much passion, dedication, and he...
09/05/2026

Happiest of birthdays to our smart, tech-savvy, super-sleuth Charlie! Charlie brings so much passion, dedication, and heart to her role as our Family Advocacy Manager. She has an incredible ability to take on a challenge, dig in, problem-solve, and somehow figure out a way forward... and our entire team benefits from it! We’re so grateful for all the ways you show up for children, families, and your CAC teammates. Happy birthday, Charlie!

When something frightening or uncertain happens, children often look to the adults around them for cues about safety.We ...
09/04/2026

When something frightening or uncertain happens, children often look to the adults around them for cues about safety.

We may not have all the answers. We may be carrying our own fear, worry, or uncertainty. And we can still offer what children need most from us: a calm presence, predictable routines, reassurance, and a safe place for their feelings and questions. You don’t have to have the perfect words. Simply being steady, present, and available is enough.

And when you could use a little support along the way, the Children’s Advocacy Center is here.

www.cac-ottawa.org

As technology evolves, so do the ways children can be harmed online. Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) is a growing con...
08/25/2026

As technology evolves, so do the ways children can be harmed online. Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) is a growing concern that extends far beyond images. It can include online coercion, threats to share intimate content, exploitation through technology, and abuse involving peers or adults.

A recent national study found that while Children's Advocacy Centers are adapting to meet these challenges, there is still a critical need for consistent training, stronger multidisciplinary collaboration, and more support for children and caregivers affected by online exploitation.

One thing is clear: prevention and education matter.

This fall, we're proud to expand our prevention efforts by piloting Teen Safety Matters in local middle and high schools. This evidence-informed program helps students build healthy relationship skills, recognize unsafe situations, understand online safety, and know where to turn for help. By giving young people the knowledge and confidence to navigate today's digital world, we can help prevent abuse before it happens.

Technology will continue to change. Our commitment to protecting children will too. Together, we can create safer online and offline communities where every child has the opportunity to heal, grow, and thrive.

Source: Research published in the Journal of Child Sexual Abuse (2026): Practices and Challenges Investigating Cases Involving Child Sexual Abuse Material at Children's Advocacy Centers.

A Home Run for Kids! A huge thank you to Detective Adam Hill for choosing the Children's Advocacy Center as this year's ...
08/24/2026

A Home Run for Kids!

A huge thank you to Detective Adam Hill for choosing the Children's Advocacy Center as this year's beneficiary of Stan's Bar's Charity Softball Tournament this past Saturday.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of everyone involved, the tournament raised more than $3,500 for the CAC and collected an amazing donation of household and personal care items for Cora's Care Closet, helping meet the everyday needs of the children and families we serve.

We're so grateful to everyone who played, volunteered, donated, and cheered from the sidelines. Thank you for stepping up to the plate for kids!

As families prepare for a new school year, don't forget one of the most important back-to-school essentials: conversatio...
08/20/2026

As families prepare for a new school year, don't forget one of the most important back-to-school essentials: conversations about safety. Before the first bell rings, take a few minutes to talk with your child about:

Trusted adults – Help them identify teachers, counselors, or other adults they can turn to if they ever need help.

Healthy boundaries – Remind them it's okay to say "no" to unwanted touch, they never have to keep unsafe secrets, and they should always tell a trusted adult if something doesn't feel right.

Digital safety – Talk about appropriate online communication and encourage them to tell you if anyone asks them to move conversations to private apps or keep messages secret.

Open conversations – Instead of asking, "How was your day?" try questions like, "What was the best part of your day?" or "Did anything make you feel uncomfortable today?"

They can always come to you – Let your child know they won't get in trouble for speaking up, even if they made a mistake. Knowing they'll be heard and supported makes it easier to ask for help when they need it.

These everyday conversations build trust, confidence, and resilience which help kids to feel safe, supported, and ready to learn all year long.

Real the full article from NCA here: https://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/school-safety-conversations/

Today's hot dog proceeds at Stan's Bar will benefit the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC), helping us provide prevention,...
08/19/2026

Today's hot dog proceeds at Stan's Bar will benefit the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC), helping us provide prevention, advocacy, and intervention services for children and families affected by child sexual abuse in Ottawa County, all at no cost to the families we serve.

The support continues this weekend at the Stan's Bar Charity Softball Tournament, where last year's defending champions selected the CAC as this year's benefiting charity.

Location: Central Park – Spring Lake
Date: Saturday, August 22
Time: Games begin at 10:30 AM

Come cheer on four local teams:
⚾ Bilz
⚾ Adam & Kerry Hill / Miranda and Morphine
⚾ French Filmz
⚾ Stan's Bar

Household supplies, personal hygiene items, and monetary donations for Cora's Closet will also be collected to help meet the everyday needs of the children and families we serve. A huge thank you to Stan's Bar, the participating teams, and everyone who supports our mission. We hope to see you this weekend!

A big thank you to the 20 kids and their parents from the Department of Health and Human Services who spent part of thei...
08/17/2026

A big thank you to the 20 kids and their parents from the Department of Health and Human Services who spent part of their Bring Your Kid to Work Day volunteering with us!

Our young volunteers brightened our Healing Garden by decorating and hiding colorful rocks for clients to discover. They also assembled and donated more than 20 Birthday in a Bag kits filled with cake mix, frosting, candles, and other birthday essentials.

Their kindness, creativity, and generosity will help bring smiles to children and families in our community. Thank you for making a difference!

Youth sports should build confidence, teamwork, and resilience but safety must always come first! Here are five simple w...
08/13/2026

Youth sports should build confidence, teamwork, and resilience but safety must always come first! Here are five simple ways parents and caregivers can help create a safer sports environment:

✅ Build relationships, not just rosters. Get to know coaches, volunteers, and league leaders. Understand who is responsible for your child and how your organization communicates with families.

✅ Create a team off the field. Make home a safe place for your child to share both victories and concerns. Listen without judgment and remind them they can always come to you.

✅ Stay present and engaged. Attend games when you can, volunteer if possible, and pay attention to the team culture, not just the scoreboard.

✅ Trust your instincts and speak up. If something doesn't feel right, ask questions. Open communication helps create stronger, safer organizations.

✅ Remember what success really looks like. Trophies fade, but children remember how adults treated them. Every child deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported.

Learn more about keeping young athletes safe: https://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/youth-sports-safety/

Happiest of birthdays to our amazing Prevention Program Specialist, Cindy! Cindy has the kindest heart and the sweetest ...
08/11/2026

Happiest of birthdays to our amazing Prevention Program Specialist, Cindy!

Cindy has the kindest heart and the sweetest spirit. Whether she's teaching children about body safety in the classroom, representing the CAC at community events, or making sure our Kids Have Rights materials are ready to make an impact, she approaches everything she does with care, grace, and compassion. Her dedication to helping children and families shines through in every interaction, and we're so grateful to have her on our team.

Please join us in wishing Cindy the happiest of birthdays! We hope your day is as wonderful as you are!

Address

12125 Union Street
Holland, MI
49424

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 3pm

Telephone

+16163936123

Website

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