Sherry Kitchens, Ed.S., LMFT
Director
Sherry Kitchens became the President/CEO of the Child Advocacy Center in June of 2005. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Emory University in 1992 and her M.Ed./Ed.S from the University of Florida in Marriage and Family Therapy in 1996. She became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in 1999. Sherry began her work in the child abuse prevention and intervention field in Atlanta while working with the Georgia Council on Child Abuse in the Home Visitor Program, a precursor to Healthy Start and Healthy Families. From 1996 until 2005, Sherry worked with the Corner Drug Store, Inc. in the Family Action Program and the Drug Free Communities Support Program first as a Counselor/Case Manager and then as a Regional Coordinator. With a positive attitude, history of successful community relationships, and passion for helping children, at the Child Advocacy Center she hopes to continue her efforts of bringing partners together to create the safety and community support children need to grow and flourish in our community.

Tiffany Green
Family Advocate
Tiffany Green began working at the Child Advocacy Center as the Family Advocate in July 2009. She first joined the CAC as a case management intern, but her love and support of the CAC mission caused her to stay on board. She earned a BS in Family, Youth, and Community Science from the University of Florida and will soon pursue a Master's Degree in Social Work. She is totally committed to the duties that the CAC has chosen to take on in the community and is truly excited to be a part of the wonderful staff at the Center.

Kristen Hamilton
Child Victim Advocate
Kristen began as a volunteer at the Child Advocacy Center in 2007. She then interned with case management and then later with the child victim advocate. She was excited to finally become part of the staff in 2008. Kristen will be graduating in December with her bachelors degree in Criminology and Sociology from the University of Florida. Kristen has been working with children in various arenas for many years. She has worked as a swim instructor for children, a lifeguard, and a summer camp counselor. She has also been involved for several years with a group on campus whose focus is to help children with cancer. Kristen works closely with both the Child Advocacy Center and the State Attorney’s Office. She provides a bridge between the Center and the prosecution of the case. Her experiences with the court process and working closely with attorneys have confirmed her interest in the law. Kristen plans on attending law school in the future and working as a prosecutor of crimes against women and children. She hopes to continue the mission of the Child Advocacy Center throughout her career and to support and bring hope to children.

Sharon Beckwith
Lead Therapist
Sharon began working at the Child Advocacy Center in December 2009. She earned a dual B.S. in Psychology and Education from Cumberland College in 1989, and a M.S. in Social Work from the University of Louisville in 1998. Sharon began her work with children and adolescents working as a counselor at two residential treatment centers until 1999. In 2000, Sharon began working as an outreach therapist with sexually abused children and teens at a community mental health agency. In 2001, Sharon joined the Center for Child and Family Advocacy in Columbus, Ohio as a clinician providing individual, family, and group therapy to children and adolescents who were dealing with sexual abuse issues. In 2005, Sharon was promoted to Lead Clinical Supervisor over the home-based program of the CCFA, which provides intensive, community-based services to higher risk clients and their families. Sharon is trained in play therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and Critical Incident Stress Management. Sharon is very excited about joining the Child Advocacy Center family here in Gainesville and resuming work with this special population of children and their families.

Lisa Litz
Therapist II
Lisa began working at the Child Advocacy Center in May 2009. She received her B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Missouri - St. Louis in 1991 and her M.Ed./Ed.S. in Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling from the University of Florida in 2009. Lisa came to know the CAC family during her clinical therapy internship in 2008-2009 and is excited to join the CAC as a staff member doing Case Management.

Carla Turrentine, MSW
Forensic Interviewer
Carla began working at the Child Advocacy Center in September 2009. She earned a dual B.S. in Psychology and Social Work from Tennessee State University in 2005, and her M.S. in Social Work from the University of Tennessee in 2008. Carla began her work with children and adolescents working at summer camps, and volunteering at after school programs in Nashville, TN. Between 2004-2008 Carla worked as a Program Counselor at a psychiatric residential treatment facility that housed children who were placed in foster care. This facility worked specifically with children who had sexual identity issues, and who had experienced sexual trauma as a child. In 2008, Carla was promoted to Residential Program Manager and Care Coordinator, providing supervision to direct care staff, and therapy to residents in the facility. Carla also interned with Youth Villages Inc. from 2006-2007, she provided in-home counseling to adolescents and families while utilizing the Multi-Systemic Therapy model. Carla is very excited about joining the Child Advocacy Center family as a Forensic Interviewer, and working with the Multi-Disciplinary Team.

Margot Wilder
Development Coordinator
Margot Wilder came on board as Development Coordinator for the Child Advocacy Center in March 2009. She earned a BS in Recreation, Parks & Tourism specializing in Recreation and Event Management from the University of Florida. Prior to the CAC, Margot interned extensively with the Boys & Girls Club of Alachua County and worked as a conference coordinator for the UF/IFAS Office of Conferences & Institutes. Margot has a deep passion for children’s issues and non-profit fundraising. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Not for Profit Management. Her goal as Development Coordinator is to increase community awareness of the CAC’s mission and help generate the funding our programs need to allow us to serve all abused and neglected children in our community.