About CAFY

Founded in 2003, Community Advocates for Family & Youth (CAFY) was established to minimize the impact the judicial had on children.  CAFY build on the founder’s passion to help children who through no fault of their own had to provide testimony in the adult court. 

Later, in 2005, when a public safety officer asked a volunteer at the Sexual Assault Center at the Prince George’s County Hospital if something could be done for the crime victims who were not receiving treatment at the hospital, CAFY’s victim services began. That volunteer was Arleen B. Joell, Founder and Executive Director of CAFY. The non-profit she formed in 2003 as a result of her passion and that encounter has evolved to the point that the organization was recently described by a highly respected County activist as a victim’s “social emergency room”. 

Since gaining its official nonprofit incorporation in 2005, CAFY has been the only dedicated community-based victim service provider supporting PGPD. The nonprofit she formed started servicing sexual assault victims referred by the Prince George’s Police Department (PGPD).  More than ten years later, CAFY serves all victims of crime and has been lauded by State and Local officials for the work done for the citizens of Prince George’s County. CAFY now serves Prince George’s County Police Department along with the Cities of Laurel, Greenbelt and Bowie Police Departments.

Evolution of CAFY

2003 –CAFY is established to help child victims of crime testify in adult court.

2005 – CAFY signs MOU with PGPD to provide victim services.

2011 – CAFY establishes partnership with City of Laurel, to expand neighborhood-based services with a focus on domestic violence victims

2012 – CAFY Counseling Center opens, providing trauma-focused therapies with mental health clinicians experienced in dealing with trauma resulting from crime. Services include individual, family and group counseling, sand, art and play therapy and bilingual support groups.

2014 – CAFY launches its 24/7 Helpline, a toll-free number that victims of crime can call to receive immediate advice and be referred to additional services.

CAFY starts providing services in the City of Bladensburg, to educate citizens on domestic violence.

2015 – CAFY’s Legal Clinic is launched, providing free civil legal assistance to victims of crime. Services include assistance with protective orders, divorce, custody disputes, tenancy issues, and some immigration issues such as applications for U visas.

CAFY begins home visits for clients in risky home environments. A CAFY case manager, mental health therapist and a PGPD public safety officer visit the client to determine what additional safety measures may be required.

2016 – CAFY establishes a partnership with the Family Justice Center, setting up an office in the center to provide support to individuals who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking or elder abuse

2017 – CAFY launches the Safe Transfer and Exchange Program (STEP), which offers a safe place for divorced parents to transfer their child in order to meet court-ordered visitation obligations. STEP also gives parents an opportunity to acquire parenting skills.

2018 – CAFY signs an MOU with the Child Advocacy Center, to provide services to their clients.

CAFY launches the SafeNights app, helping community to fund emergency accommodation for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

2019 – CAFY signs MOU with the Bowie and Greenbelt Police Departments, to provide victim services.