The Child Advocacy Center of Allen County IN, Inc. was founded in 2000 and later renamed The Dr. Bill Lewis Center for Children. The center is a nationally accredited, non-profit 501c(3) that exists as a collaborative effort of local agencies to combat the complexities of investigating child sexual abuse.
Named after the late Dr. Bill Lewis, a long-time Fort Wayne neonatologist whose life was dedicated to the care of and advocacy for children, the center serves as the voice of justice for children whose trauma has often engulfed them in silencing fear. The center is located in Fort Wayne and serves eight counties in northeast Indiana: Allen, Adams, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells and Whitley County.
The Dr. Bill Lewis Center is a neutral, all-inclusive location that offers a comprehensive team approach to services for young victims and their families. Members of the Allen County Police Department, Fort Wayne Police Department, New Haven Police Department, Child Protective Services, The Fort Wayne Sexual Assault Treatment Center, Victim’s Assistance and Allen County Prosecutor’s Office all work together on each case to form multidisciplinary teams dedicated to serving the best interest of the child.
Serving over 600 children in 2014, the Dr. Bill Lewis Center is accredited by the National Children’s Alliance (NCA). NCA provides professional training, financial support, technical assistance, leadership, national advocacy and access to current research findings on child abuse and neglect. Accreditation provides consistency across child advocacy centers through proven approaches.
