The next meeting to discuss a planned
child advocacy center will be held at 6 p.m. July 14 at the Dandridge Ruritan
Park on Highway 92.
At the meeting,
a group of concerned citizens in the 4th Judicial District will continue its
work on establishing a child advocacy center as a place where suspected
victims of child abuse can be interviewed and helped in a home-like setting.
An initial interest meeting in Sevier County on June 22 resulted in a
turnout of approximately 80 child
care professionals, juvenile court
officials, law enforcement administrators, business professionals
and others. According to the Tennessee Children's Advocacy
Center, which provides
oversight for all of Tennessee's associated
advocacy centers, it was the largest turnout for an
initial interest meeting ever in Tennessee.
The center would serve children in
Sevier, Cocke, Grainger and Jefferson
counties. In the 12 months ending June 20, the Tennessee Department of
Children's Services recorded 5,334 reports of alleged child abuse, including
sexual and severe physical abuse or neglect cases, in the 4th Judicial
District. A breakdown indicates there were 2,088 in Sevier County,
1,561 in Jefferson
County, 1,118 in Cocke County and 567 in Grainger County.
"In many of these
situations," said Barry Fain, youth services officer for the
Jefferson County Juvenile Court, "the children have been victimized,
are already frightened, and end up being interviewed multiple times in office
settings that do nothing to make the situation any less traumatic for them to
repeatedly recount horrific incidents. Ultimately, the very system intended
to serve them ends up making them feel victimized, yet again."
Under one roof, a children's
advocacy center would provide a
central place for serving children, including crisis intervention and
counseling, with group therapy and child-friendly interview rooms; forensic
medical exams through contract with trained medical professionals;
an investigative team, as required by state law; education and training
coordination, including programs
for area professionals to learn
about child abuse, the teaching of personal safety and awareness in area
schools, and community programs
given to churches and civic organizations; court support group, helping
children and their families who may have to go to court and testify; an
advocacy program to support the
non-offending family members so they can protect
the child-victim; and transportation, mostly for victims and their families
who need medical services, counseling and/or group therapy.
"Investigators who have
worked through a children's advocacy center in other areas report a
significant increase in their rate of convictions," Fain said. "And, when it is
a child that has been victimized, it's all about protecting
the children from offenders and the system intended to protect
them."
The first steps in the process of establishing a center is educating the
public, acquiring tax-exempt status as a nonprofit,
and securing financial and in-kind support from the community.
Those who plan to attend the
Dandridge meeting should RSVP to Fain,
either by calling (865) 397-1898 or e-mailing
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Another Sevier County meeting is planned for 6 p.m. July 26 at the courthouse.
For more information on children's
advocacy centers, visit the Tennessee Chapter of Children's Advocacy Centers
at www.tncac.org.
©The
Mountain Press 2005
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