Northwest Austin Edition | January 2023

Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center expansion nears completion

BY GRANT CRAWFORD

six forensic interview rooms, extra oce space for sta and a commu- nity space. In addition, private out- door space will be available, giving families, sta and law enforcement a place to get some fresh air and decompress, Sturman said. Once the new portion opens, renovations to the existing WCCAC will start. The project, including the renovations, new sta and operational costs, is $15.15 million, of which 77% is funded.

AUSTIN The construction on the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center will wrap up around February, about a year after the proj- ect to expand the 15,000-square-foot facility in Georgetown broke ground. A nonprot organization, the WCCAC provides a variety of services for children who have experienced physical or sexual abuse, or witnessed domestic abuse or violent crime. WCCAC Director of Community Engagement Tiany Sturman said the expansion will double the organization’s capacity for investigation services. Once the building is complete, the WCCAC will have two medical rooms, six family waiting rooms,

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APD to address aws in sex crimes response

BY BEN THOMPSON

including alleged bias and mistreat- ment of survivors, for $875,000. In a Dec. 28 memo, APD Chief Joseph Chacon said an “intensive review” of sex crime procedures is underway based on the Police Executive Research Forum report and its 100-plus proposed improvements. Chacon also said the department is taking a long-term, multidisciplinary approach to any changes with input from area stakeholders, such as The SAFE Alliance nonprot and county law enforcement and attorney’s o ces.

AUSTIN A series of shortcomings within the Austin Police Depart- ment’s Sex Crimes Unit has yet to be addressed despite some recent prog- ress, according to a review of nearly 1,500 sexual assault investigations by the APD. City leaders commissioned the deep dive in 2019 after concerns about the APD’s sex crimes practices built up over several years. The report’s release came after Austin settled lawsuits against the city for failures in the APD’s response to sex crime cases,

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Northwest Austin to gain 2 new children’s hospitals

Celebrating 60 years

The rst of two children’s hospitals coming to the Northwest Austin and Cedar Park border is expected to open in April, bringing Dell Children’s services to the area. The 187,000-square-foot hospital will have 36 beds, two operating rooms, procedure rooms, sleep labs and shell space for future growth. Nearby, Texas Children’s Hospital is building a hospital and outpatient building o Lake Creek Parkway that is slated to open in February 2024. The $485 million hospital will be have 52 patient beds.

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NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JANUARY 2023