ABOUT CACVA
Our Staff
The Children’s Advocacy Centers of Virginia employs a team of experienced professionals dedicated to serving the needs of its member centers through advocacy, collaboration, funding, networking, evaluation and assessment, training, technical assistance, and more!!!!!
Rebecca Simmons
Executive Director
Rebecca Simmons joined CACVA in July 2025 as its Executive Director. She spent the previous 10 years leading Valley Children’s Advocacy Center, where she exponentially grew the center’s services, staff, and community outreach. Under her leadership, the CAC expanded into some of Virginia’s most rural counties, including Highland and Alleghany, bringing invaluable services to previously underserved communities. She also cultivated strong multidisciplinary team (MDT) relationships, helping professionals across disciplines understand and embrace the benefits of the CAC model.
Rebecca led the center in launching several innovative initiatives, including the addition of an on-site forensic medical room and the introduction of the agency’s first facility dog—both made possible through the collaborative efforts of community partners and stakeholders.
She holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Virginia Commonwealth University and has worked with at-risk children and families for over 20 years. In addition to her leadership roles, Rebecca has served in various capacities across the child welfare and behavioral health sectors, including as a founding board member of People Places Therapeutic Foster Care Agency and as Chair of the Valley Community Services Board. Rebecca is frequently invited to speak at colleges and universities about her work in the field of child maltreatment, and has served as a subject matter expert on child sexual abuse, child maltreatment, and trauma across multiple jurisdictions.
In recognition of her advocacy on behalf of child victims, she received the Attorney General’s Unsung Hero Award in 2024. Rebecca is passionate about legislative advocacy and remains committed to empowering communities to engage in awareness and prevention efforts related to child sexual abuse. In her role at CACVA, she continues to support children, families, and the CAC mission across the Commonwealth.
Email Rebecca: Rebecca.simmons@cacva.org
Emily Simpson
Program Specialist MDT/FI
Emily has spent the last 11 years serving Southwest Virginia’s most vulnerable
populations. She joined the CAC movement in 2017 as a Forensic Interviewer and New River Valley Coordinator with the Children’s Trust Children’s Advocacy Center in Christiansburg, Virginia.
In her time with Children’s Trust, she conducted over 1,000 forensic interviews of children, testified as an expert witness in multiple courthouses, and facilitated multidisciplinary teams in five jurisdictions. Emily was the recipient of the Clarine Spetzler Guardian Angel Award in 2023 for her contributions as a forensic interviewer and expert witness in a ground-breaking court case involving child sexual abuse.
Emily is passionate about empowering forensic interviewers and encouraging multidisciplinary teams according to best practice standards in order to best serve the children and families in our communities.
Email Emily: Emily.Simpson@cacva.org
Cindy Fellows
Brand Photographer & Content Strategist
Cindy is the creative force behind October Grace Media, a brand photography studio based in Staunton, Virginia, dedicated to partnering with small businesses, nonprofits, and corporate teams to tell their unique stories through dynamic, authentic imagery.
With a deep commitment to purpose-driven storytelling, Cindy specializes in brand photography, short-form video, and content strategy that helps organizations connect meaningfully with their communities. Her documentary-style approach captures the heart behind the work, creating images and content that feel real, relatable, and rooted in mission.
Cindy has partnered with Valley Children’s Advocacy Center in Staunton, Virginia, since 2022 and joined CACVA in February 2026. She has presented on digital storytelling at the Virginia Crimes Against Children Conference, sharing best practices on authenticity, purposeful content, and navigating sensitive topics in the child advocacy space.
Connect with Cindy: Click Here
Becky Maas
Operations Coordinator
Becky joined CACVA in 2016. In her role as Program Assistant, she works with the Executive Director and Program Director to support Virginia’s CACs through assisting with statewide trainings and the annual conference.