Coordinated, Multi-agency Child Abuse Investigations
A. Investigations: The Blount County Children’s Center leads the effort to encourage all local agencies working with abused children to work together as a team on child abuse cases. When a report of child sexual abuse or serious physical abuse is made to DHR or law enforcement, both agencies work together to investigate the report. The non-abusing parents or guardians are asked to bring the child to the Children’s Center, where a detailed investigative interview is recorded. One trained interviewer talks with the child, while all other agencies needing the information view the interview on closed circuit television. This lessens the number of people interviewing the child and lessens the trauma associated with disclosing abuse. A plan to protect the child is developed, as well as strategies for interviewing the alleged perpetrator. Team members continue to investigate the case for possible prosecution and protection of the abused child, and provide assistance and guidance to the child and non-abusing family members as they negotiate the court process. Case Review: The Blount County Children’s Center organizes and coordinates the Multi-disciplinary Child Abuse Response Team, which meets monthly at the Children’s Center. The team reviews the status of all open child sexual abuse and all serious physical abuse cases in Blount County, makes recommendations to the District Attorney regarding possible prosecution of the alleged offender, and discusses child safety and counseling needs. The Team includes representatives from DHR, the District Attorney's office, law enforcement agencies, Juvenile Probation, Blount County Schools, Blount County Health Department, Juvenile Court, and the Children's Center staff.
2. Free Professional Therapy
Abuse, especially sexual abuse, is not something one gets over in a few weeks. It usually takes extended therapy for abused children and their non-abusing family members to get their lives back together and begin to heal from the abuse. Free professional therapy is provided for child abuse victims, as well as, adult survivors of child sexual abuse and victims of domestic violence, rape and other traumatic crimes. Abuse specific therapy is also critical in preventing the cycle of abuse from extending to future generations.
3. School-based Child Abuse Prevention
Many children will not tell anyone, or perhaps just another child about their abuse. We encourage and help children to tell responsible adults through our presentations to school children in grades kindergarten through 6th grade. The program provides children and faculty with information on child abuse and how to avoid or stop abusive situations, and what to do when abuse occurs. Nearly every time we visit a school, one or more children finally gather enough courage to tell for the first time about the abuse which has been happening to them. Often sexual abuse has gone on for years without ever being reported.
4. Public Awareness
Public Awareness is a powerful tool in fighting child abuse, and the Blount County Children’s Center strives to make the citizens of our county aware of the nature and scope of the problem, and what can be done to stop the abuse. We make presentations throughout the year to various community organizations, participate in various fairs and festivals, and use our local media to disseminate information about child abuse. We also provide training events for child abuse professionals and others in the community. Funding for our various programs is provided in part by:
United Way of Central Alabama
Alabama Department of Economic and Community Development,
VOCA
State Legislative Appropriation
Blount County Health Care Authority
Oneonta City Schools
Blount County Commission
City of Oneonta
Contributions and Fundraising
Your support is needed to continue the fight against child abuse! Please send your contribution to: Blount County Children's Center, P.O. Box 906, Oneonta, AL 35121, or give on-line at our web page www.blountcountychildrenscenter.com
