Archive for Friends Stories
Dec
05
Future of current CAC format in question
Posted by: | CommentsDec. 20, 2012 Winchester Hall
Board of Country Commissioner’s meeting
It is urgent that interested parties attend the Dec. 20th BoCC meeting.
A decision will be made at the BoCC as to what will happen to the Children’s Advocacy Center. There are some who want to change the child-centered, family -oriented model currently followed which is based on the model set out by the National Children’s Alliance www.nationalchildrensalliance.org
This is the model that Frederick County adopted and began using in April 2001, which the Frederick County Child Advocacy Center follows and which the Friends of the Child Advocacy Center and Frederick Woman’s Civic Club support. Please join us on Dec. 20, 2012 at 10 AM in the Commisioner’s Board Room at Winchester Hall to show our support for the current standards of care and practice. Time will be allowed for public comment.
Oct
21
BoCC presentation
Posted by: | CommentsOn September 27, 2011, the director of the CAC made a presentation to the BoCC. The presentation was about the grants and budget of the CAC and the impact of a 25% to 50% reduction of funding to the programs. Sixteen members of Friends of the CAC attended to demonstrate our support for the programs that help these young victims.
One of our founding members discussed the aim of Friends of the CAC with the BoCC. Highlights from her comments include: Our goal has always been: A safe, secure, child friendly facility with all agencies involved in the processing of physically or sexually abused children in one location so the child will only have to tell his/her story one time with video available for all people involved. Children should not be victimized over and over by telling it to more than one agency. The child can receive exams, counseling, and healing at one place by trained professionals in age appropriate surroundings. Nearby counties all had facilities before Frederick.
Friends of the CAC help children to heal through activities: Camps such as ballet and soccer, therapeutic riding, Project Boost at Hood College, music lessons, etc. Our group attends hearings in Annapolis and communicate with our representatives via email and letter writing. We help with community awareness with fundraising events.We have partnered with Debbie Williams and Bechtel Woman’s Group in fundraisers for the center. Our supporters include Walmart and students at Urbana who conducted a 5K race a few years ago. We also have helped the Department of Juvenile Services with an Interagency Basketball Tournament fundraiser for the past two years. We help the CAC staff at community activities such as “In the Streets,” Baker Park 4th of July, events at Ft. Detrick and others. The innocence of our children is being brutally taken away.
These young victims need the help and support of our county leaders. If not funded, where will these injured children find comfort and healing? There are more animal shelters in the state of Maryland than Child Advocacy Centers. We urge the Commissioners to take a tour of our local Animal Control Center one morning and then go to the Child Advocacy Center and compare the quality of the facilities.