Statements
Mission
Our mission is 'To reduce the trauma of child abuse and facilitate the healing process.' This is accomplished by utilizing a Child Advocacy Center (CAC) method of abuse investigation. To reduce the trauma of child abuse a child is interviewed one time by a trained forensic interviewer. The child is interviewed in a child-friendly environment which also helps to reduce the trauma to the child.
Background
The concept of a Child Advocacy Center began in Huntsville, Alabama by an Assistant District Attorney, Bud Cramer, who was frustrated by the inefficiency of child abuse investigations. Now, Child Advocacy Centers around the world serve physically and sexually abused children. They are designed to streamline the investigation of child abuse cases while reducing the stress on the child. The CAC interview process reduces the trauma on the child. In addition to interviewing abused children, the CAC refers victims for counseling and provides community education.
These are the words written by an eight-year-old girl to the kind Forensic Interviewer at the 15th Judicial District Child Advocacy Center after the little girl disclosed, for the first time, how she had been the victim of awful acts of child sexual abuse: "Thank you for repairing my heart." In those words, you could sum up the entire mission statement of the CAC.
Sadly, her story is not unique.
"Thank you for helping me through, for all the times you were there, and for your love and care"
"You were there for me"
"I'm so happy I got to talk to somebody about this"
"To the people that help me:"
"I've lived all my life with no one knowing. It's just been me…"
All of these are quotes from children of varying ages who received services, counselling, and help at the 15th Judicial District Child Advocacy Center in Lebanon. The need is great.
Impact
The 15th Judicial District Child Advocacy Center served over 700 children and conducted over 300 forensic interviews in 2024.
We not only serve the children of our district, but their parents and caregivers. We offer Family Advocacy as well as the forensic interviews that can lead to prosecution of child abuse.
The CAC continues to plant a pinwheel garden in Lebanon & Mt. Juliet each April for Child Abuse Prevention Month. The pinwheels have expanded to 4 counties that we serve this past year and represent the children served the previous year who received forensic interviews.
Currently, the CAC provides forensic interviews to children from all five counties in the 15th Judicial District and has an active multidisciplinary team that meets four times monthly to review cases. The family advocate works with the children and non-offending parents/guardians to assure they receive the appropriate services. The CAC also provides community education through Darkness to Light, Stewards of Children training.
Our Center not only is a haven for children and their parents/caregivers, but we also provide rest to the DCS workers, law enforcement detectives, district attorneys, and other workers who work to end child abuse.
Needs
Our largest need is always cash donations that will help us continue to provide services to children and their families.
However, if you would like to do an in-kind donation, the best help to us would be to choose from our Amazon Wish List here: https://a.co/5Pzv5J3.
CEO Statement
Thank you for learning more about our Child Advocacy Center! We cannot do what we do to support abused children and their families without the support from our community and donations!
Board Chair Statement
Imagine a community where prevention is possible, and no children suffer from abuse. The sad fact remains that thousands of children suffered abuse last year in the five counties the 15th Judicial District serve. Referrals to the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) have increased every year for the past four years.
Child abuse can affect entire families. At the CAC we provide help and support to siblings as well as non-offending adults and caregivers.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Crime & Legal - Related - Child Abuse Prevention |
| Secondary Category: | Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy - Children's Rights |
| Tertiary Category: | Public & Societal Benefit - Alliances & Advocacy |
Areas Served
We serve children that have been severely physically and sexually abused in Wilson, Trousdale, Smith, Macon, and Jackson Counties of Tennessee. Child physical and sexual abuse is not discriminatory and effects all socio-economic areas of our community. Our Child Advocacy Center is physically located in Lebanon, Tennessee and we have our satellite office in Carthage, TN.
| TN - Jackson |
| TN - Macon |
| TN - Smith |
| TN - Trousdale |
| TN - Wilson |
