Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center

"This is the way it starts," said Donna Koester, of Sevierville, Tuesday after she agreed to chair the child advocacy center task force for the 4th Judicial District. "The word will spread. It starts to mushroom and snowball and before you know it, we will have a child advocacy center in the 4th District." 

Koester has been among those pushing for the center for some time. Getting the task force formed is a major step, but there is a lot left to do, including applying for grant money and getting a signed agreement among all the agencies that work with children pledging cooperation. 

The center would provide resources and counseling for children suspected of being victims of sexual or physical abuse or extreme neglect. Children could be helped in a home-like setting instead of a law enforcement office.

More than 40 people were at the meeting, most from Sevier County but some from Cocke, Grainger and Jefferson counties which are part of the 4th Judicial District. 

Barry Fain, Jefferson County's youth services officer, tried a year ago to get some interest going on a center but failed. Now he's the new treasurer of the task force executive committee. 

"We had trouble getting the ball rolling, but it will happen now," he said. 

Marian Oates of Sevier County, former director of the Girl Scouts, will serve as secretary. A least two people from each of the district's four counties will be appointed to the executive committee, but many more will be asked to help out on the task force and its committees. 

Committees will be formed to explore funding, a site for the center and marketing/public relations.

Other points made during the meeting:

There are 28 child advocacy centers in the state.

Kirk Lane, regional administrator of the Department of Children's Services, said it takes an average of 19 months from inception to opening for most centers, but he thinks the one for this district can be done quicker. He said one in Johnson City opened less than six months after it was conceived.

First Presbyterian Church of Jefferson County donated $500 to the project, which will be the seed money to open the task force bank account at Sevier County Bank. The bank has waived all fees and will provide the checks.

The church has taken on the project as a cause, member Carolyn Berryhill said, and will also donate another $3,000 or so from proceeds of the church yard sale in October. Berryhill, a professional grants writer, will do the paperwork to file for grants from the National Children's Alliance.