Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center

Efforts to bring a safe harbor for abused and neglected children to Sevier County got a boost Monday

   The Fourth Judicial District, which includes Sevier, Jefferson, Cocke and Grainger counties, is one of only four in the state without a child advocacy center. Work to change that began about a year ago and led to the formation of SafeHarbor.
   Koester hopes to find a temporary home for the program by the end of September. Safe Harbor currently operates out of Koester's home.
   "We've got our eyes on some property, but we're a long way from being able to begin work on that," Koester said. "This donation will go a long way toward helping us secure a temporary facility and hire staff."
   United Way makes a similar "community impact" donation every year to projects it identifies as providing long-term, lasting change in the community. Last year the funds went to construct a new playground at Jones Cove Elementary School.
   "We continue to look for projects in the community service areas where we can make a real difference," Marshall said. "This is what community impact is all about."
   When it has a home and is fully staffed, the program will provide one location for several services provided to abused and neglected children. From physical exams to therapy to interviews for district attorneys to use in court, the center will bring together services children and their families now have to visit several locations for.
   "The need to provide this kind of facility to children and their families made us realize the urgent need this group has," said Steve Helton, day-shift supervisor with the Pigeon Forge Police Department.
   The donation will go a long way toward helping the program get its operations in full swing, Koester said.
   "This donation is very big for us," she said. "We're so thankful to the United Way family for finding us worthy of this gift."