In the last twelve (12) months
ending June 20th, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services has
recorded 5334 reports of alleged child abuse, including sexual and severe
physical abuse or neglect cases, in the 4
th Judicial District of
Tennessee, the counties of Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier. A
breakdown by county of these specific referrals indicates 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, 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. But,
there is hope!
A group of concerned citizens
representing the various parts of the 4th Judicial District will
be holding an informational meeting on July 14th at 6:00pm at the
Dandridge Ruritan Park on Hwy. 92 in Jefferson County, to continue their work
of establishing a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) in the 4th
Judicial District, similar to those found in other judicial districts
throughout the State of Tennessee. An initial interest meeting in Sevier County on June 22nd
resulted in a turnout of roughly 80 interested childcare professionals, juvenile court officials, law
enforcement administrators, concerned business professionals
and other citizens. 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.
Under one roof, a children’s advocacy center in the 4th
Judicial District would provide a
central hub for all aspects of serving children victimized by sexual and/or
severe physical abuse or neglect. In this one location would be:
· Crisis
intervention and counseling, including group therapy and child-friendly
interview rooms;
· Forensic
medical exams through contract with trained medical professionals;
· A
Child Protective Investigative team, as required by state law, working
together to provide services to
children and their families;
· 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;
· A
Court support group, helping children and their families who may have to go
to court and testify; Advocacy program
to support the non-offending family members so they can protect the child-victim;
· Transportation,
mostly for victims and their families who need medical services, counseling
and/or group therapy.
Investigators that have worked
through a children’s advocacy center in other areas report a
significant increase in their rate of convictions, directly attributed to the
CAC concept, while reducing further trauma to the child-victim in the process of the investigative and prosecutorial processes.
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 one of these much needed
child advocacy centers is educating the public, acquiring the tax-exempt
status as a non-profit, and
securing financial and in-kind support from the community. Please make
plans to attend this important meeting on July 14th from 6:00-8:00pm. Please RSVP with
Barry 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
.
For more information on
children’s advocacy centers, please visit the Tennessee Chapter of
Children’s Advocacy Centers at www.tncac.org.
© Standard
Banner - 2005
**********************************************************************************
