What is a Children’s Advocacy Center?
A Children’s Advocacy Center is a child focused, facility based program in which representatives from many different disciplines- Law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, mental health, medical and victim’s advocacy- work together, conducting joint forensic interviews and making team decisions about the investigation, treatment, management, and prosecution of child abuse cases.
Is a Center really needed in Adams County?
Many people do not believe that child abuse exists in Adams County. However, that is not that case. It does exist. In 2005, there were 163 reported allegations of child abuse in Adams County and 33 of them were substantiated. This includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. These were only the numbers for the cases that were reported. There are many cases of child abuse that go unreported for many years and sometimes never get reported.
It is up to our community to help stop child abuse. There are several ways that you can help. First, if you suspect or know that a child is being abused contact your local Children and Youth Agency. If you do call in your information will remain confidential so please do not be scared to call. Remember you may be helping a child.
Second, talk to your children about abuse and tell them that if someone does abuse them then they need to tell you. Often times children will feel like it is their fault that they were abused so they will not tell anyone. Sometimes the child abuser will threaten to hurt someone or something that is close to the child so the child will not say anything. Reassure your child that they can talk to you about anything and there are people who will help them.
Lastly, be aware of who your child is with and what they are doing. Unlike most movies, child abusers are not scary, dirty strangers. In most child abuse cases, the abuser was someone who the child knew and the parents trusted. Even here is Adams County we find all kinds of child abusers. They are both male and female, all races, and all socioeconomic classes. Make sure you know who is watching your child and talk to your child on a regular basis to ensure that someone is not abusing them.
There are people out there to help you such as Children and Youth Agencies, Law Enforcement, Victim Witness, and the District Attorney’s Office, and Children’s Advocacy Centers. However, if we are going to stop child abuse from happening, we are going to need the help of this community.