Planning Underway To Establish Child Advocacy Center





 

 

“It is a very important venture that will make a huge difference in people’s lives,” said District Attorney for the 81st Judicial District Rene Pena, on the need for a Child Advocacy Center in the region. “It really needs to be a team effort. It is time for us to step up.”

Pena shared these words at a meeting held at the Floresville Community Center on Friday, Jan. 25.

Assistant District Attorney Audrey Louis explained the urgency for a CAC, which offers comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate services to child victims of abuse. Children who are sexually or physically abused are taken to a Child Advocacy Center to meet with a highly trained forensic interviewer.

A campaign is underway for the Children’s Alliance of South Texas, A Child Advocacy Center for the region, which includes Atascosa, Wilson, Karnes, Frio and LaSalle County.

An organizational meeting was first held back in June of 2012 with many law enforcement agencies, CPS and other community leaders present. A task force and several committees were later formed and board members were named.

Serving on the board are:

•Rene Pena, District Attorney, (President, CAST).

•Audrey Louis, Assistant District Attorney.

•Rodolfo Jaramillo, Retired Texas Ranger and C.O.O. Capital Well Service, (Vice President of Children’s Alliance of South Texas.)

•Don Brangan, Camino Real Community Services, Lytle.

•Ray Lamberth, local Floresville businessman.

•Chief Eddie Salas, Karnes City P.D. Chief of Police.

•Julie Braun, Retired Karnes City ISD (Secretary, CAST).

•Joel Rodriguez, LaSalle County Judge.

•Louisa Franklin, Director of Student Services, Cotulla ISD.

•Julie Rowell, CPA, (Treasurer, CAST).

•Kelly Dalton, Program Director CPS. Why do we need a CAC?

A Child Advocacy Center eliminates the humiliation that abused children experience, when they have to repeat the crimes that happened to them to eight different people.

“It is a re-victimization for the child,” said Louis.

At a Child Advocacy Center, the child is taken to a kid-friendly environment. It is designed to reduce the trauma of the interview and to provide a necessary tool in prosecuting those who prey upon children.

In child abuse cases, explained Louis, the child’s statement is often the key evidence utilized by investigators in determining the facts. At Child Advocacy Centers, the child’s statement is both video and audio recorded. CPS and other law officials are usually there in a separate room listening in.

Currently, sometimes the surrounding area like Bexar County and Hondo are used for investigations. The centers previously used for forensic interviews of crimes against children can no longer provide such services. Other factors, like increased population growth and the rise of criminal activity make such a center extremely needed.

“They don’t have the manpower. It is time for us to carry our own weight,” said Louis.

There are currently 65 Child Advocacy Centers in Texas. Louis shared that Texas has more CACs than any other state.

In the first five years, Children’s Alliance of South Texas will provide:

•Service to over 2,000 traumatized children.

•Comprehensive services in a more efficient, effective, child-friendly manner.

•Increased access to mental health services.

•Training and peer review for highest standards of care.

•A child-friendly and safe place where the child’s needs are paramount.

Where will it be?

So where will this center be located? Louis explained they are relying on the 100 percent donation of a facility. The facility must meet certain criteria:

1.) The facility must be in a neutral and physically separate space from the dayto day operations of any public agency partner (i.e. law enforcement, CPS, prosecutors offices). This can be anything from a small, refurbished house, to a renovated wing of a county office.

2.) The facility shall provide a setting that is comfortable, private, and both physically and psychologically safe for child victims.

3.) There must be separate and private areas available for those awaiting services, for case consultation and discussion, and for meetings or interviews.

Whomever is able to provide a facility that meets this criteria is likely where CAST will be located.

Raising money

Especially important to make a Child Advocacy Center a reality is funding. CACs run on grants and private contributions. To help raise necessary funds, a drawing for prizes will be held March 22 at the Floresville Event Center and you do not need to be present to win. A total of 1,000 tickets will be sold for $25 each. They will be dispersed the second week of February. Wilson County News has generously donated the printing of the tickets.

Items so far for the drawing (all donated) are:

•Wooden Arbor/Swing, $1,500, Tony Martinez, Floresville

•$5,000 game hunt for 2 with overnight stay at San Miguel-Quintanilla Ranch, Tilden, TX

•Texas Ranger knife, $50, Rudy Jaramillo

•Texas Ranger knife, $50, Rudy Jaramillo

•South Texas books, value of $52.89, Pleasanton Express

•Custom made large BBQ pit, $2,200, JV Steel, Tilden, with custom paint job by Johnny’s Paint & Body in Floresville

•Two Blackberry torch phones ($499.99 each ), AT&T, San Antonio

•Sony Tablet P, $349.99, AT&T, San Antonio

•40” Sanyo TV, LED, $398, Wal Mart, Floresville

•Handcrafted Wooden octagon picnic table, $200, Otto Rakowitz,

•35 Quart YETI Cooler, $279.99, Weston’s Services

•San Antonio Spurs, 2 game tickets

•HP 15.6” Laptop, $288, Wal Mart, Kenedy

•Anza Fillet Knife w/leather sheath, $92.99 & $50 gift card, Tractor City, Kenedy TX

•Doe & Hog hunt in LaSalle County donated by George Trigo & Adolph Thomas (valued at $1,500)

•$1,000 cash – Ancira Ford Floresville

•iPad, ($399) Rosendo Almaraz, Jr., with the Almaraz Law Firm, PLLC Weslaco

•$50 Visa Gift Card

•$150 gift card for any hair service by Robin Peche, at Salon Tease, 335 W. Olmos Dr., San Antonio, TX 78212

•$100 visa gift card, Chad and Tina Hartman

How can I help?

Anyone wishing to donate items can contact Audrey Louis at the District Attorney’s office no later than Thursday, Jan. 31.

If you are interested in purchasing tickets, or donating to Children’s Alliance of South Texas, A Child Advocacy Center, you are asked to contact the 81st Judicial District Attorney’s Office at 830-393-2200.

Donations can also be made directly at any Wells Fargo branch.

CHILD ABUSE IN TEXAS

•Today, 185 Texas children will be victims of abuse.

•In one year, more than 65,000 cases of child abuse were confirmed in Texas.

•1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before her 18th birthday.

•1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before his 18th birthday.

SOURCE: CACTX.ORG

How to Respond to an Outcry of Abuse

Remain calm.

Always believe the child. Children rarely lie about such an intense and painful topic. In fact, statistics indicate that children only lie about abuse 2-8 percent of the time. Your response to the disclosure of abuse is critical to the child’s ability to resolve and heal.

Assure the child that they did the right thing in telling. A child who is close to the abuser may feel guilty about revealing the secret. The child may feel frightened if the abuser has threatened to harm the child or other family members as punishment for disclosing the abuse.

Tell the child that they are not to blame for the abuse.

Do not make promises.

Let the child tell their story, but leave the questioning to the professionals. File a report with Child Protective Services within 48 hours.

If the child is in immediate danger, call 911. The statewide hotline is 1-800-252-5400.


 

 

Board members for the Children’s Alliance of South Texas, A Child Advocacy Center are, left to right: Rodolfo Jaramillo, Eddie Salas, Julie Braun, District Attorney Rene Pena, Louisa Franklin, Julie Rowell, Kelly Dalton, Don Brangan and Assistant District Attorney Audrey Louis. Not pictured are: Ray Lamberth and Joel Rodriguez.

Board members for the Children’s Alliance of South Texas, A Child Advocacy Center are, left to right: Rodolfo Jaramillo, Eddie Salas, Julie Braun, District Attorney Rene Pena, Louisa Franklin, Julie Rowell, Kelly Dalton, Don Brangan and Assistant District Attorney Audrey Louis. Not pictured are: Ray Lamberth and Joel Rodriguez.

 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *