Sheboygan's child advocacy center unveils $2.25M renovated space at Uptown Social

SHEBOYGAN PRESS

'This center is a lifeline for children in crisis,' Amanda Didier, executive director of LRCAC, said.

SHEBOYGAN – Lakeshore Regional Child Advocacy Center celebrated the opening of its new space in the Uptown Social building, 1817 N. Eighth St., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 27.  

The victim advocacy center's renovated 5,000-square-foot space was made possible with $2.25 million in donations part of a $2.5 million capital campaign. The new office space has observation, medical, advocacy, therapy and family meeting rooms to assist with child abuse and family violence investigations.

Amanda Didier, executive director of LRCAC, said the new space will allow the organization to reach more children, provide faster interventions, and better work with law enforcement and social services.  

“This center is a lifeline for children in crisis,” Didier said in a news release.

The Saukville-based organization moved from the Sheboygan Police Department, a community partner since late 2020. Since establishing a local presence, LRCAC has seen more than 600 children and families each year. Also serving Ozaukee, Washington and Manitowoc counties, the organization reported 40% of its cases came from Sheboygan last year. 

“The impact of having a safe and reliable place for kids and families to receive support, trauma-informed care and resources they need cannot be understated,” Gov. Tony Evers said at the ceremony.  

Evers declared 2025 “The Year of the Kid” in his State of the State address in January, proposing to lower child care costs, expand mental health programs and school meal offerings, and reduce gun violence in his two-year state budget, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. 

“I believe, just like all of you, what’s best for our kids is best for our state,” Evers said. 

Mayor Ryan Sorenson, Sheboygan Police Chief Kurt Zempel and Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Deidre Martinez also attended the ribbon-cutting.  

LRCAC is seeking support to reach the remaining $250,000 of its capital campaign.