By Monica Green/features@trcle.com
Editor’s note: This is part four of a four-part series highlighting April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
Crisis intervention, individual counseling, play therapy and personal advocacy are four of the services the Children’s Advocacy Center of Johnson County offers for children who have been mentally, physically or sexually abused.
“As far as what makes the Children’s Advocacy Center unique, it’s going to be the multidisciplinary team approach to felony criminal investigations,” said Tammy King, executive director of CAC in a previous interview with the Times-Review. “When you talk about the advocacy center, you’ve got a team of about 30 professionals from all different disciplines that work to first get the child safe.”
All cases handled by the center are referred to them by a law enforcement agency or detective. Children are brought in and interviewed by a trained professional.
“On average a case can take 18 months,” King said. “Typically that’s the quickest end time we’ll have with any family. We staff that case every month until it’s reached final disposition.”
Counseling is offered for the children, both during and after their case is complete. Group and individual counseling sessions are available, based on the child’s need.
The center has several programs that benefit children.
“Our most amazing volunteer component is the therapy dogs,” King said. “We have about 15 different dogs certified.”
The center was the first in Texas to have its dogs accompanying children in court and in the interview room.
“The dogs do an amazing job helping to soothe the children,” King said. “There is always anxiety that goes with telling their traumatic stories. These very special dogs seem to respond effortlessly to each child’s needs.”
The dog’s handlers are volunteers who donate their time to bring the dogs to the center for interaction with children.
Another program, called the Baby Moses project, provides a safe baby site for Johnson County.
The Baby Moses Law enacted in 1999 provides a responsible alternative for parents who might otherwise abandon, neglect or harm a newborn child.
The center is a site where infants can be left, unharmed, up to 60 days old.
The center’s sole fundraising event is the annual Cowboys for Kids weekend. The event was held Friday and Saturday, bringing celebrities to Cleburne to help raise money for the abused and neglected children the center serves.
The organization acquired the building at the intersection of Woodard Avenue and Granbury Street for its new facility.
Plans to move into the building this month were halted when a 19-year-old Godley woman crashed into it with her vehicle in March.
Repairs are being made. A new move-in date has not yet been set.
The CAC office is located at 103 Poindexter St. in Cleburne. For information, call 817-558-1599 or visit www.childadvocacycenter-jc.org.
