EAC Network opens Nassau County Child Advocacy Center
State and local officials joined EAC Network cut the ribbon on the Nassau County Child Advocacy Center (CAC) in Bethpage last week, officially becoming Long Island’s lead agency responsible for protecting children from physical and sexual abuse and shielding minors from sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.
The new center is located at 15 Grumman Road West in Bethpage.
With the addition of the Nassau County CAC, EAC Network now operates Child Advocacy Centers in both Nassau and Suffolk counties, making it the only agency leading child protection services across all of Long Island. In the first three months of 2026, EAC Network’s new Nassau location has received nearly 200 referrals for suspected physical or sexual abuse of minors.
“Child abuse and sex trafficking don’t stop at county lines, and neither do we,” said Neela Mukherjee Lockel, president and CEO of EAC Network. “With our Child Advocacy Centers now in both Nassau and Suffolk, EAC Network is the first organization in Long Island’s history to offer a unified, island-wide response to child exploitation. In our first three months operating this center, we’ve already received nearly 200 referrals from our partners for cases of suspected abuse, which is a clear and unfortunate signal that the need in Nassau County is urgent and real.”
The Nassau County CAC operates the Child Advocacy Center Program, which provides a coordinated, trauma-informed response to children who have experienced physical or sexual abuse, ensuring they receive forensic interviews, medical evaluations, and mental health support in a safe, child-friendly environment. In addition, the center operates the Safe Harbour Program, dedicated to protecting Long Island minors under age 18 from sex trafficking and sexual exploitation, offering comprehensive services and advocacy.
EAC Network carries out this work alongside a broad coalition of community partners, including the Nassau and Suffolk County Police Departments, both district attorneys’ offices, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Justice, mental health providers, NYU Langone Hospital, both county Child Protective Services departments, and community leaders across Long Island.
For more information about EAC Network’s child protection programs or to make a referral, visit eac-network.org.
