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Family Victim Advocate: A Friendly Face at the CAC
by Beth Copeland, Contributing Editor
"I'm the first face families see when they come to the Child Advocacy Center," says Megan Fitzgerald, who joined the CAC as Family Victim Advocate on April 5. "I welcome the family. Typically, we have the child and the non-offending parent here." Fitzgerald's role is to provide support, information, and referrals for families of children who come to the CAC for Forensic Interviews. Sometimes parents are anxious about what the Forensic Interview entails, so Fitzgerald explains the process to them. As the child is being interviewed, she speaks privately with the parents about their concerns. "A lot of parents blame themselves, even if there's nothing they could have done," ... read the rest of the story |
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 Now is the time to Join Hands with the Child Advocacy Center
by Roberta Humphries, Executive Director
One picture can speak volumes. The drawing below was done by a child after his Forensic Interview at the Child Advocacy Center in which he needed to talk about the sexual abuse that was happening right in his own home. Although the interview was very difficult for him, being able to come to the Child Advocacy Center to disclose what had occurred, made it less traumatic for him. The CAC is a child friendly place where children that have been sexually abused can tell their story in a non-threatening environment and can begin the healing process. For that child on that day, the CAC was such a place.
With your help we can continue providing this service to the children of our community.
You do not have to wait a single moment longer to begin improving the life of a child. Join Hands with the CAC by donating $25 or more and your name will be added to our wall of helping hands for one year. You can make your contribution now by clicking here to access our secure on-line donation page. Hands will be displayed on a wall at the CAC for one year. |
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American Girl Fashion Show - Children Helping Children
by Christine Scott, CAC Volunteer
The smiles on the faces of the young girls participating in the American Girl Fashion Show (AGFS) held on March 20 - 21, 2010 were so heartfelt and proud that they brightened up the whole room. The executive chairs of the fashion show, Julia Adkins, Cindy Huguley, and Carol Jones, could certainly be proud of the overwhelming success of the Child Advocacy Center's largest fund raising event. Their dedicated compassion and tireless efforts towards making the American Girl Fashion Show a flawless success were certainly evident in the overwhelming community response and attendance to the show. The CAC extends a sincere thank you to the amazing American Girl Committee Chairs for all they have done to make the latest show a dazzling success!
All three of the American Girl Committee Chairs have had a long history in volunteering and have always sought to enrich their community through actively participating in a number of different local organizations. Through their involvement with the local chapter of the Junior League, ...read the rest of the story
 2010 American Girl Fashion Show Models with Mistress of Ceremonies, Miss Fayetteville 2010, Kinsey Boarts and AGFS Commentators, Jordan Joyner and Elizabeth Adkins |
Announcements
Speakers' Bureau
As you plan your new year of speakers for civic, faith and community organizations, don't forget the CAC has a group of volunteers who are eager to speak on the problem of child abuse and what individuals can do to prevent and stop it. Please call the center at 486-9700 to schedule.
Turn your Grocery Shopping into a Fundraiser for the CAC Register your Food Lion MVP card to support the Child Advocacy Center and get a chance to win free groceries every time you shop! Food Lion's new program, MVP Community Rewards, is a free, easy way for you to provide the CAC with much-needed donations.
To learn more and sign up, visit www.foodlionmvprewards.com, click on "Shoppers Register Here," and enter your 12-digit MVP card number and Organization Code 252043. All supporters must register, even if you have previously registered for other programs.
Facebook page 
Check out the Child Advocacy Center on Facebook and become a fan! Share our page with your Facebook friends.
CAC Wish list
Bottled Water
Canned soft drinks
Powdered creamer and sugar
Hot and cold drink cups
Paper plates
Tri fold paper towels
Gift cards to grocery store or office supply store
Copy paper 8 ½ X 11
Post-it notes
Air Purifier
Children's books or magazines
Individually wrapped snack items
Stand Fan
New office furniture
New furniture for family waiting room
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Thank You!
The CAC would like to thank Laura Stevens and the Heart of Christmas Show for their generous donation of $1000. Pictured are Laura Stevens, Director of the Heart of Christmas Show and Roberta Humphries, Executive Director of the Child Advocacy Center.
The CAC was the recipient of an Operation Round Up Grant from South River Electric Membership Corporation for $5000. These funds will be used to provide training for members of our Multi-Disciplinary Team who conduct forensic interviews of children and work together to investigate and recommend appropriate action in cases of child abuse. Pictured (l to r: CAC Board Members: Lucy Jones, Beth Hall, Horace Thompkins; Catherine O'Dell with SREMC; CAC Board Members Rosemary Zimmerman and Beth Keever.
Board Member Dr. Howard Loughlin and Executive Director Roberta Humphries were thrilled to receive an $8000 check from Bank of America Merrill Lynch presented at the Child Advocacy Center by Marcus M. Cox, Market President.
The Surf Girls, a local Christian service organization for pre-teen girls in Fayetteville, visited the CAC and spent the afternoon organizing and cleaning the toys in the family waiting rooms and also presented hand made blankets which will be given to the children that come to the center. The Surf Girls are led by Allyson Nance. |
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Believe the child. Children rarely lie about sexual abuse. -
Commend the child for telling you about the experience. -
Assure the child that you will protect him or her. -
Express your support for the child. Children's greatest fear is that they are at fault and responsible for the incident. Helping your child remove self-blame is of paramount importance. -
Recognize that your acceptance is important to the child. Control your own reaction. Do not express your horror about the abuse. -
Do not go to the school or program where your child says something happened [or to the person your child says abused him or her] to talk about your concern. Instead, report the suspected abuse to a social service agency and/or the police. -
Find a specialized agency that evaluates sexual abuse victims-a hospital, child welfare agency, community mental health program or child abuse treatment center. Keep asking until you find a group or an individual with appropriate knowledge to assist you. In Cumberland County, call DSS at 910-677-2450. -
Search for a physician with the experience and training to detect and recognize sexual abuse when you seek a medical examination. Community sexual abuse treatment programs, children's hospitals and medical societies may be sources for referrals. -
Talk with other parents to ascertain if their children exhibit unusual behavior or physical symptoms. -
Remember that taking action is important because other children will continue to be at risk if nothing is done. Child sexual abuse is a community concern.
-Reprinted from Child Sexual Abuse Prevention: Tips to Parents, Office of Criminal Justice Planning, State of California Additional resource information on protecting children from abuse may be found at the Child Advocacy Center's website.
Get involved. Learn more. The future well being of a child may be at stake. |
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What We Do
The primary mission of the Child Advocacy Center is to mobilize effective collaborative community responses to child abuse. The CAC provides a safe and child-friendly place where 19 community agencies come together to interview, investigate and provide support for abused children. During 2009, our center served 483 children and their families and, by our coordinating efforts, saved the community more than $600,000.
2010 Board of Directors and Staff
Board of Directors
Rosemary Zimmerman, Chairperson
The Honorable Elizabeth Keever, Vice Chairperson
Horace K. Thompson, Treasurer
Beth Hall, J.D., Secretary
Kenneth Barefoot
Neil Bergman
Linda Braswell
Ron Buryk
Marcus Cox
Marge Dederick
The Honorable Laura A. Devan
Kensley Edge
Tim Edwards, J.D.
Claire Hill, J.D.
Debbie Jenkins
Lucy Jones
Bradley J. Loase
Howard Loughlin, M.D.
Michael Nagowski
Angela Neal
Taylor Stephenson
Kevin Thompkins
Wendy Vonnegut, Esq.
Billy West, J.D.
Carolyn Zahran
Staff
Roberta Humphries, Executive Director
Jackie Davis, Finance Manager, MDT Facilitator
Megan Fitzgerald, Victim/Family Advocate
Faith Boehmer, Volunteer Coordinator
Jan Rogers, Forensic Interviewer
Kelly Blake, Program Assistant |
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