Davis House Helps Children Heal: Matching Gift Doubles Your Donation
Talking about child abuse isn’t easy. It’s painful, uncomfortable, and deeply unsettling—and yet, it’s happening right here in Williamson County.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness, take action, and support the organizations working to protect children and help families heal. In Middle Tennessee, Davis House Child Advocacy Center has been doing that work for more than 25 years. In support of that work, a generous donor has stepped forward with a $500,000 matching campaign, doubling all donations made to Davis House.
We spoke with the Executive Director of Davis House, Carolyn Evans, about what children face, how Davis House steps in, and why your support is urgently needed to continue this critical work.
What Davis House Child Advocacy Center Does
Every judicial district in Tennessee is legally required to have a child advocacy center (CAC). In Williamson County, that responsibility belongs to Davis House.
When a report of abuse is made, Davis House coordinates with law enforcement, the Department of Children’s Services (DCS), and the District Attorney’s office to ensure the child’s safety and minimize additional trauma. One of the most important steps is the forensic interview, which takes place in a supportive setting designed to reduce fear and pressure.
“The whole purpose of a child advocacy center is to create a safe place for kids to tell their story,” explained Executive Director Carolyn Evans. “We record it, with DCS and police observing remotely, so the child doesn’t have to take the stand in court. That interview becomes their voice.”
But the work doesn’t stop there.
Davis House helps children and families from the moment of disclosure through every stage of recovery, providing trauma-focused therapy, family advocacy, and court support—whether that care is needed for weeks or for much longer.
“Healing takes time,” said Evans. “Abuse doesn’t happen in a vacuum. To help a child become a healthy adult, we have to walk with them through key moments—sometimes for months, sometimes for years.”
That long-term support is a vital part of prevention, addressing abuse when it happens so the trauma doesn’t follow a child into adulthood. With timely therapy and a safe place to speak up, children can begin to process their pain and move forward.
In 2023 alone, Davis House served more than 500 new child clients, ensuring every child received the support they needed at no cost to their family. Evans stressed the urgency of that access. “Our goal is that no child ever waits for help,” she said. “And we rely on the community to make that possible. We’ve served thousands of children, but there’s still more work to do.”
A House Designed for Healing
From the moment a child walks into Davis House, everything is designed to ease fear and build trust. The space includes sensory-friendly lighting, calming nature-themed rooms, and areas where children of all ages can regulate their emotions during incredibly difficult moments.
There’s also something special waiting for each child: a visit to the Stuffed Animal Room.
At Davis House, every child is invited to choose a stuffed animal to take home after their interview—a small act that helps restore a sense of comfort, normalcy, and care. In 2024, local high school student Kenny Royer launched a community-wide Stuffed Animal Drive to support this effort. The Stuffed Animal Drive is back for 2025, running through April, to help ensure that Davis House is always stocked with something soft and reassuring for each child who walks through the door.
It’s a small act of kindness that can make a big impact. “We always say, ‘Be a kid again. Pick out a stuffed animal,’” said Evans. “They’re often surprised they get to keep it. It’s something positive to hold onto after something so difficult.”
Another meaningful tradition is the Button Jar. After their interview, each child drops a button into the jar—a small but symbolic gesture marking their courage. The growing collection shows children they’re not alone. Many find comfort in seeing just how many others have been there before them and found the strength to speak up.
Some even choose to leave behind handwritten notes for the next child who visits. These personal messages—often just a few words—carry powerful reminders: “You’re brave.” “It’s okay to be scared.” “You are not alone.”
Small expressions of care like these are part of what makes Davis House a place of hope. They show each child that healing is possible—and that others have walked this path before them.
Why Davis House Needs You
Although Davis House is legally required to operate as a child advocacy center, state and federal funding covers only a small fraction of what’s needed, and that amount has not increased for decades. It’s not enough to support even one full-time forensic interviewer, much less provide comprehensive services like therapy, training, and family support.
“We’re mandated to exist, but we have to fundraise to survive,” Evans said. “Therapy alone can cost thousands per child each year. Without help from the community, many kids would go without the care they need.”
Evans noted that while the work of Davis House is critical to the safety and well-being of children, it operates without a large marketing team or major advertising budget. “We rely on awareness, word of mouth, and generosity,” she said. “Most people who hear about us say, ‘I’ve lived here 20 years and didn’t know you existed.’ That’s a problem. If people knew, they’d help.”
Double Your Impact: Donate Today to Support Davis House
An estimated 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Most of the children served by Davis House are between the ages of 7 and 13, and 90% know their abuser. Abuse can happen anywhere: in homes, schools, neighborhoods, and online.
For the children walking through the doors of Davis House, abuse isn’t just a statistic—it’s their reality. These children are often scared, confused, and hurting. Many have kept their pain a secret for years. For some, Davis House is the first place they are truly heard.
Moved by the critical work Davis House does every day, a generous donor has offered Davis House a $500,000 matching donation. “There has never been a more important mission than serving and healing children in Williamson County who have suffered from physical and sexual abuse,” the donor shared.
This gift allows Davis House to match all individual donations, so every dollar you donate is TWICE as valuable during this time. This match will be available until Davis House reaches its goal of raising $1,000,000.
You can make a one-time gift, become a monthly supporter, or dedicate your donation in honor or memory of someone special. Every contribution—large or small—helps fund therapy, advocacy, and care for children in crisis.
To give, visit Davis House Child Advocacy Center.
Looking For Other Ways to Help?
There are many ways to support Davis House beyond a one-time or monthly gift—each one helps protect children and strengthen our community.
Give Financially
Davis House now accepts secure stock transfers and ACH (Automated Clearing House) donations, both of which may offer tax advantages. You can also make a lasting impact by including Davis House in your estate plans, such as a will, trust, or life insurance policy.
To discuss stock, ACH, or legacy giving, contact Laura Jumonville.
Host a Prevention Training
Invite Davis House to speak at your school, workplace, church, or civic group. These visits include customized prevention trainings—from body safety lessons for young children to online safety for teens and mandated reporting guidance for adults. Children learn how to identify safe adults, recognize unsafe behavior, and ask for help. Adults are trained to spot warning signs, respond appropriately to disclosures, and understand their legal responsibilities.
These sessions are tailored to each audience and help build a stronger, more informed community. With only 12% of abuse cases reported, education is a powerful tool for prevention.
For prevention training, reach out to Carrie Norvell.
Support the Stuffed Animal Drive
Each child who visits Davis House is invited to select a stuffed animal to take home—something soft and comforting to hold after an incredibly difficult experience. The annual Stuffed Animal Drive helps keep this tradition going by collecting new stuffed animals throughout the month of April.
Learn more about the Stuffed Animal Drive here.
Stay Connected
Follow Davis House on Instagram to keep up with donation drives, local shopping partnerships, and community events.
Support Davis House: Break the Silence, Offer Hope
Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and believed—and Davis House Child Advocacy Center is making that possible, one child at a time.
Davis House is there during some of the hardest moments a child and family will ever face, providing the care and resources needed to begin healing. But they can’t do it alone. Community support ensures that no child has to wait for help, and no story goes unheard.
“Would anyone in Williamson County not want to protect their children?” Evans asked. “This is how we do it—by giving them a voice, a safe space, and a path to healing.”
Your support—through donations, awareness, or action—can help break that silence and bring hope where it’s needed most.
Davis House Child Advocacy Center is not a reporting agency. To report known or suspected abuse in Tennessee, call the TN Child Abuse Hotline at (877) 237-0004.
