In Movement: 7 Questions with Madison Davisson | The Children’s Center of Medina County | Ohio
November 3, 2026
Welcome to In Movement! In this segment of our blog, we interview thought leaders from within our own organizations – from CACs and MDTs and partner agencies – to gain insight into how they have furthered the movement, and how the movement has changed them. We look forward to benefiting from the lessons they’ve learned, the challenges they’ve faced, and the future they envision for themselves, our centers and teams, and the children and families we serve.
For Madison Davisson, the desire to help others eventually became a calling to dedicate her career to children. As a psychology major, she knew she wanted to pursue work that would make a difference in people’s lives. By her senior year, that direction had become clearer, leading her toward work supporting individuals who had experienced abuse and neglect and, ultimately, a career focused on the protection and well-being of children.
Today, Madison serves as Executive Director of The Children’s Center of Medina County in Medina, Ohio, after previously serving as a Forensic Interviewer. Her transition into leadership has given her a new perspective on the work that happens behind the scenes to support the Center’s mission and ensure children and families have a pathway to healing.
That work continues to evolve. The Center has expanded its services to offer on-site medical exams through partnerships with the Medina County Health Department and Akron Children’s, helping children receive specialized care in the same child-friendly, trauma-informed environment. The team is also continuing to grow CASA in Medina County, recruiting and training volunteers to advocate for children involved in the court system.
Through all of it, Madison and her team continue to think about what success really means for the children they serve. Sometimes, she says, success can be as simple as one child walking through the Center’s doors and learning that there is a safe and trusted adult who cares about what they have experienced. It’s a perspective that connects to Madison’s vision for the future: “Every child, no matter who they are, is worthy of being protected and enjoying a safe and healthy childhood.”
We asked Madison to participate in our Member Spotlight Interview Series. Read on to learn more about her journey from Forensic Interviewer to Executive Director, how The Children’s Center of Medina County is strengthening services for children and families, and what she hopes comes next.
Why did you choose this as a career?
Like many psychology majors, I always knew I wanted a career where I could help people. It wasn’t until my senior year that a calling was placed on my heart to help individuals who had experienced abuse and neglect. My passion ultimately led me to pursue a career dedicated to the protection and well-being of children.
What’s something interesting you’ve learned recently?
Our team has been learning a lot about the medical exam component of the CAC model, especially the complexities of the exams themselves. We’ve been working really hard to improve the flow of the medical exam process and implement procedures in a way that is efficient, consistent, and trauma informed for the children and families we serve.
On a personal note, transitioning from Forensic Interviewer to Executive Director has taught me a lot about nonprofit management and the behind-the-scenes work required to keep an organization running effectively. It has provided me with a broader perspective on how all of these pieces support our mission of providing a pathway of healing to children and families.
What’s a challenge you and your colleagues feel proud of solving?
As mentioned above, we’re proud to have expanded services at our CAC by offering on-site medical exams through partnerships with the Medina County Health Department and Akron Children’s. Having these specialized exams in the same child-friendly, trauma-informed environment allows children to receive more coordinated care without having to travel to multiple locations.
We’re also excited to have had CASA in Medina County for the past year. We’ve continued to recruit and train dedicated volunteers who are committed to advocating for children involved in the court system. We’re proud to have volunteers consistently being assigned to cases, providing children who have experienced abuse or neglect with someone in their corner to advocate for their best interests and help bring consistency and stability throughout the court process.
What about your work inspires you and keeps you going?
Our team talks a lot about how we measure success. In this line of work, success can look different for different people, especially when you are interacting with children who are in various stages of their healing processes. At the end of the day, if one child comes to our Center and learns that there is a safe and trusted adult who cares about what they have experienced, even that can be considered a successful day.
What’s the biggest need for kids you think we can meet in the next five years?
Research shows that having at least one safe and trusted adult can change the trajectory of a child’s life, and that is one tangible goal we can achieve as a community.
The supportive and healing services we provide cannot simply end at the door when a child leaves counseling, school, church, or another service in the community. Those services are an important part of a child’s healing, but they only reach a child for a portion of their time. For healing to continue, that kind of support needs to carry over into a home environment. Equipping parental figures with the resources and tools they need to support their children is an important part of creating lasting healing.
Lastly, while I do not think anyone fully knows where technology and AI will be at in 5 years, I do believe it is crucial for us to better understand and grasp the influences of it and how it can be used to harm children. I am hopeful that dedicated professionals will be working hard to help navigate those challenges in the upcoming years.
What do you think the ideal future looks like for kids?
Every child, no matter who they are, is worthy of being protected and enjoying a safe and healthy childhood.
What’s next for you?
My overall goal is for our organization to continue pursuing our mission and goals with excellence. Our newly developed strategic plan will help us do just that. We will continue our commitment to providing high-quality, trauma-informed services that are grounded in best practices, because that is what the children and families in our community deserve.
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