LEWISBURG, W.Va. (WVDN) – The Child and Youth Advocacy Center (CYAC) in Lewisburg has announced new leadership and staff appointments.
Francesca Zarcone has been named executive director. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Zarcone received her Master of Social Work from Saint Louis University and moved to West Virginia in 2018. She began working with the Appalachia Service Project in flood recovery and home replacement before joining CYAC as the community education coordinator in 2019. Zarcone has served as interim executive director since late 2022 and officially accepted the role in May 2023. She is excited to expand programming and strengthen existing services.
Chloe Nelson has joined the CYAC team as a forensic interview specialist. A Greenbrier County native, Nelson earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from West Virginia Wesleyan College. She is dedicated to fostering hope and healing for children by supporting their voices and advocating for their needs.
Heather Hill has been appointed as the CYAC’s community outreach coordinator. Hill holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology with a minor in dance from Radford University and a master’s degree in psychological services from Marymount University. With over 25 years of experience in the mental health field, Hill specializes in a variety of areas, including women’s issues, domestic violence, adverse childhood experiences, sexual abuse, crisis intervention, trauma, grief/loss, eating disorders, pregnancy options counseling and substance use disorder. She is dedicated to advocating for equality and equitable health care in West Virginia and looks forward to expanding the prevention education and outreach program.
The CYAC is a private, nonprofit organization established in 2001 and has served children and families since 2004 in Greenbrier, Monroe and Pocahontas counties.
By coordinating a multidisciplinary team approach to investigation, prosecution, treatment and prevention, the CYAC streamlines investigations, minimizes trauma and ensures that no child falls through the cracks. The organization collaborates with local prosecutors, law enforcement, Child Protective Services, victim advocates, the school system and medical and mental health providers to achieve its mission of ending child abuse.
The CYAC offers a range of services, including forensic interviews, victim support and advocacy, trauma-focused therapy, crisis intervention, coordination of forensic medical exams, case tracking and reviews, facilitation of multidisciplinary investigation team meetings, community education, awareness and prevention. The organization serves not only child victims and their non-offending caregivers but also adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are victims. All services are provided free of cost to victims and their families.
