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. In the past if there was alleged child abuse, the child would have to tell the abuse story to numerous agencies such as law enforcement, Department of Children's Services (DCS), the Assistant District Attorney (ADA), health care providers, and any others assigned to the case. At a Child Advocacy Center the child tells their story one time to a trained forensic interviewer while a multi-disciplinary team watches the interview in another room, via close-circuit television. The team may be comprised of the ADA, DCS, law enforcement, and others involved in the case. The interview is recorded so team members may review it, if needed. 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.
The 15th Judicial District CAC was started by a group of concerned citizens in Wilson County. It has been in operation since 2008, serving Wilson, Trousdale, Smith, Macon and Jackson Counties. In 2009 an executive director was hired. During 2010, the goal was to create awareness in the community about the CAC and the services it provides. In 2014 a full-time forensic interviewer was hired and in 2018 a family advocate was hired.
These are the words written by an eight-year-old girl to the kind forensic interviewer at the Lebanon 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 CAC staff has educated over 2200 adults in in the last 12 years on how to recognize, report, and prevent sexual abuse through Stewards of Children training. For every adult trained in Stewards of Children, ten children are better protected; this translates to better protecting over 21,000 children. The CAC continues Stewards of Children training in Wilson, Macon, Trousdale, Smith & Jackson Counties.
The CAC staff have informed over 500 adults about child sexual abuse using Prevent Now and supplemental Stewards of Children training. These adults are teachers, counselors, day care workers, health care workers, parents, church volunteers, and numerous other concerned adults in the community.
The CAC staff have partnered with the five counties' school systems that we serve during the last two years to provide the one-hour annual child abuse prevention training required by law.
During the last two years our CAC staff have held a community all-day child abuse prevention symposium reaching over 125 attendees with great feedback.
The CAC continues to partner with Cumberland University to present an Annual Child Abuse Awareness Panel providing insight into the working partnerships of the CAC and survivor stories.
The CAC held its 12th Annual Chocolate Affair fundraiser at the Capitol Theater, Lebanon, featuring a Broadway musical, dinner, silent/live auction, and chocolate fountain. It was our most successful fundraiser to date.
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 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.
Needs
The CAC needs continuous donations from the community to support children who have been victimized. This past spring, the CAC purchased a beautiful two-story brick home in Lebanon where we have been housed for the last three years. This home is very child friendly and welcoming to all children and families who come here for an interview. Our CAC staff wants each child and family to have a sense of safety and security upon entering the center surrounded by a welcoming setting with puzzles, dolls, and toys in the waiting area. Any donations will also support each child that enters the interview room who will be given the option to play with Play-doh, draw, or hold "fidget" toys during their interview. Finally, each child that is forensically interviewed will be given the option to choose a developmentally appropriate gift/toy before leaving the CAC. This makes the child feel comfortable, associates the CAC with something positive, and reassures them that they are not in trouble. Your donation will help provide these toys for the children. These items always run low and are constantly being restocked at the cost of the CAC. We are grateful for the donations and funds with which we can purchase these toys.
CEO Statement
The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) serves children when allegations of severe physical and sexual abuse have been reported but also works diligently in the community to prevent child abuse. Since preventive education is a proven tool for reducing child abuse, the CAC is making every effort to offer education to the community through Darkness to Light, Stewards of Children, a program that educates adults on how to recognized, report, and prevent child sexual abuse.
Our goal is to educate 5% of the population of the 15th Judicial District in the next five years. The CAC staff is also providing community partners with information on how the CAC works and the services offered. We are working to reduce the statistic that 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused by age 18 (Darkness to Light)
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.
In 2022 our 15th Judicial District Child Advocacy Center (CAC) received the most referrals (628) ever in one year to our agency for children who had been severely physically or sexually abused, drug exposure, and even child death and we completed (311) forensic interviews. While this number is staggering on its own, about 60% of children never disclose abuse, thus the actual number is much higher.
At the CAC children as young as 3 and up to age 17 are provided with a safe, comforting environment to tell their stories. This step is an important one, as many children carry the burden of abuse by themselves in silence and fear. These are comments from child surveys when asked what they liked about the center:
"They made it easy and made me feel relaxed."
"They were also very welcoming and provided a safe space for me."
"They understand how you feel and really try their best to help you."
To be heard and believed is the first step in the healing process. Through funding we are able to coordinate counseling and other services to help children and families continue along the healing path and survive this dark chapter in their lives.
Child abuse can affect entire families. At the CAC we provide help and support to siblings as well as non-offending adults and caregivers. For many parents and caregivers, this is the first opportunity they've had to express the emotions and worry they've been feeling. Parents have commented on what they like most about the center:
"The attention my children received to help them in this time of need."
"Caring people with a wholehearted approach to helping our child."
"The help, I'm thankful to begin my child's process of healing from the abuse she has endured."
"Thank you for being here for her and helping her to be heard. I know so many kids are not. So thank you."
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 (Smith County).
| TN - Jackson |
| TN - Macon |
| TN - Smith |
| TN - Trousdale |
| TN - Wilson |
