Founded in August 2006, The Citrus County Children’s Advocacy Center, which would become known as “Jessie’s Place”, evolved from the grassroots efforts of dedicated local child advocates to better serve the community’s abused, neglected, and traumatized children.

With the goal of creating a Children’s Advocacy Center utilizing the nationally-proven model of a Multi-disciplinary approach to responding to cases of child maltreatment, the first official meeting was held in April 2005.

Countless volunteers and generous community members made the idea a reality when Jessie’s Place opened its doors for the first time in 2008.

Named in memory of Jessica Lunsford who was taken from us far too soon, this facility works to honor Jessie by protecting all children of Citrus County from violence, abuse, and neglect.