Agency History

  • August 1992 – Paula Spindle called Texas CASA for start-up materials

    February 1, 1993 - our first class of CASA volunteers were sworn-in

    February 1, 1993 – our first class of CASA volunteers were sworn-in by the 336th District Judge, Ray Grisham

  • September 1992 – Received endorsement from the honorable Judge Ray Grisham; Steering Committee elected Board of Directors
  • October 1992 – Articles of Incorporation & By-Laws were Written; endorsement from Child Protective Services received; & Dr. Rudy Churner donates office space
  • November 9, 1992 – Office opens at 204 East Fifth in Bonham, Texas
  • January 1993 – First volunteers trained at Collin County CASA
  • February 1, 1993 – First CASA volunteers sworn-in at Fannin County court
  • March 1993 – First training held in Fannin County
  • April 8, 1993 – CASA appointed to our first case by Judge Ray Grisham, 336th District Court
  • April 8, 1993 – Volunteers from first Fannin County class are sworn-in
  • 1995 – Distribution of Christmas gifts becomes more organized
  • 1997 – First School Supply Drive
  • July 1999 – Children’s Advocacy Center is started
  • February 2000 – First Case Reviews held at the Children’s Advocacy Center
  • August 2000 – Interagency Agreement and Working Protocols were established and implemented for the Children’s Advocacy Center
  • December 2000 – First Forensic Interview conducted at the Children’s Advocacy Center
  • May 2002 – Capital Campaign to raise $150,000 to relocate the agency is kicked off.
  • February 4, 2003 – Purchased 112 West Fifth Street in Bonham, Texas
  • April 4, 2003 – Celebrated our Tenth Anniversary at 112 West Fifth Street and announced the achievement of our capital campaign goal.
  • April 5, 2003 – Renovations of 112 West Fifth Street begin under the direction of volunteer general contractor Dugan Curtis.
  • May 30 & 31, 2003 – Offices were closed to move from 204 East Fifth Street in Bonham.
  • June 2, 2003 – Center re-opens at 112 West Fifth Street in Bonham.
  • August 1, 2003 – Grand Opening celebration held at the new center.
  • January 2004 – Groups for teenage victims of sexual abuse and their caregivers are started at the Children’s Advocacy Center.
  • February 20, 2004 – Grand opening of the Rainbow Room.
  • April 2004 – First “Open Your Heart” annual campaign
  • August 2004 – Agency name officially changed to Fannin County Children’s Center
  • August 2004 – Child abuse prevention programs presented to children in schools and day cares
  • September 2005 – First annual “Justice Is Served”
  • August 2006 – First “Grape Stomp” held at the Homestead Winery
  • October 2007 – Court School program started
  • February 2008 – “Stewards of Children” program started to educate adults about preventing and responding appropriately to child sexual abuse
  • April 2009 – “No Excuse for Child Abuse” slogan was first used and the first “Stand Up For Kids” was held at the Fannin County Courthouse
  • April 2011 – “Stand Up For Kids” adds games and activities for kids
  • February 2012 – “Recognizing and Reporting” classes started to educate adults about how to recognize and report signs of child abuse.
  • New logo adopted in 2013

    New logo adopted in 2013

    April 2012 – Courage Group started to offer a free support group to women who were sexually abused as children

  • 2013 – Celebrating 20 years of serving children!
  • July 2013 – Mission statement updated to “promoting safety and improving the lives of abused and neglected children.”  We also adopted a new tag line of “prevent, advocate, heal.”
  • August 2013 – We adopted our new logo, pictured above right.
  • January 2014 – renovations to the front part of the center to increase security
  • January 2016 – added a full-time therapist to our staff
  • August 7, 2017 – Render’s first day as our Facility Dog
  • November 8, 2017 – Render’s first day to go to court with a child
  • April 2018 – Celebrating 25 years of serving children!
  • June 2018 – added second full-time therapist to staff
  • September 2019 – added third full-time therapist to staff
  • December 2019 – received a donation of about 8 acres of land, at the corner of Lee and Albert Broadfoot Streets in Bonham for building a new, larger facility
  • June 2021 – Launched the Build the Dream capital campaign to raise $10 million to build a new, larger facility
  • August 2021 – Render retired to stay with his handler and family