December 31, 2025 3:20 a.m.
The Douglas C.A.R.E.S. Board of Directors has announced the difficult decision to temporarily pause all operations, effective January 1st.
The organization is the sole Child Advocacy Center serving Douglas County.
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A Douglas C.A.R.E.S. release said the pause is projected to last through February 1st at a minimum, as the organization addresses a severe financial crisis.
This emergency measure is a direct result of significant financial constraints, including unforeseen shortfalls in crucial grant funding and unexpectedly low reimbursements for essential billable services. These challenges have created an unsustainable operational environment, making a temporary suspension of services necessary to restructure and seek a viable path forward.
Board President David McGinnis said, “It is with profound regret and a heavy heart that we must take this step”. McGinnis said, “We understand the critical nature of the services we provide and the trust the community places in us to protect the children of Douglas County. The gap in services this pause creates is deeply concerning, and we offer our sincere apologies to the children, families, and partner agencies who rely on us daily”.
The release said for years, Douglas C.A.R.E.S. has been at the forefront of the community’s response to child abuse, providing a safe, neutral location for forensic interviews, medical exams, and victim support services, all under one roof. The organization’s multi-disciplinary team approach ensures that children and families receive coordinated, compassionate care without having to navigate multiple systems during a time of crisis.
McGinnis said, “The vital work of Douglas C.A.R.E.S. is a community effort, and now more than ever, we need our community to come together”. McGinnis said, “We are actively exploring every possible avenue to secure emergency funding and long-term sustainability. The future of our CAC and the safety net it provides for vulnerable children are at stake”.
The board encourages residents, local businesses, and community leaders to join the effort to save Douglas C.A.R.E.S.
Updates on the organization’s status and ways the community can help in the coming weeks will be posted at: https://www.douglascares.org/ or on their Facebook page.