Child Advocacy Center of Aiken County

1. Child Advocacy Center of Aiken County P.O. Box 1763 Aiken, South Carolina 29802 (803) 644-5100

2. Child Advocacy Center of Aiken County

3. The Scope of the Problem • According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) an estimated 905,000 children in the United States were victims of child abuse or neglect in 2006. • 1,530 children died as a result of abuse or neglect in 2006.

4. The Scope of the Problem • 1 out of 4 girls and 1 out of 6 boys will experience some form of sexual abuse by the age of 18 (Deblinger & Heflin, 1996). • Many children do not tell anyone about their sexual abuse (London, Bruck, Ceci, & Shuman, 2005). • If they do disclose, children rarely lie about sexual abuse. • Aiken County ranks #1 in South Carolina in terms of incidents of sexual violence against children.

5. The Scope of the Problem • On average, 90% of child victims know their sexual abusers (USDHHS, 2006).

6. Who We Are • We are a 501(c)(3), therefore we rely on grants and private donations. • We do receive some reimbursement for forensic interviews and medical exams through South Carolina Office of Victim’s Assistance (SOVA). • We are nationally accredited by the National Children’s Alliance, which is the national accrediting agency for CAC’s. • We are a collaboration of over a dozen public and private agencies that serve abused children.

7. Our History • There are 18 CAC’s in South Carolina. • The Aiken County CAC is the 17th and was not established until 2005. • Prior to the center: • Children had to be transported to Columbia or Charleston • Children had to be transported for both the forensic interview and the medical exam • Children had a lengthy wait for both of these (usually several weeks) • Children were also seen at the ER • The ER is a poor environment for disclosure and not appropriate for examination of chronic sexual abuse.

8. Our Staff • Executive Director: Gayle Lofgren, LMSW (Starting in July 2009) • Program Coordinator: Anne Laver • Clinical Coordinator: Jeanette Hanna, LPC • Office Manager: Nancy Nealious • Forensic Interviewer: Mary Helen Simons, LMSW • Master’s Level Intern (USCA): Ashley Miller

9. Greeter: Peaches

10. Our Mission • The mission of the CAC is to protect children by providing on-site agency collaboration and the use of the multi-disciplinary team approach in: • prevention • investigation • assessment • referral for prosecution • treatment of child sexual abuse • To be able to conduct child-friendly criminal investigations.

11. Waiting Room- Child Side

12. Waiting Room- Adult/Teenage Side

13. What We Do • We provide forensic interviews. These interviews follow a protocol entitled “Child First” formerly known as “Finding Words”. • We provide medical exams. These exams allow us to ensure the safety of children. • We provide therapy for child victims and their non-offending family members. • We provide case management by bringing all parties involved together through Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings. Agencies involved are Law Enforcement, DSS, DJJ, Mental Health Providers, Solicitor’s Office, and the School District.

14. Who We Serve • Children who have been sexually/physically abused in Aiken, Edgefield, and Barnwell counties referred by law enforcement and DSS.

15. Who We Serve • Children from ages 2-17; both males and females

16. Who We Serve • Children from various ethnic backgrounds.

17. Forensic Interviews • The goal of the center is to conduct one interview early in the case. This reduces the number of times the child has to repeat his or her story. • The interview is recorded live with law enforcement and DSS watching the DVD. • DVD can be used in court with children under the age of 12. • Use “Child First” Protocol • Used nationwide • Careful not to lead child • Use of anatomical dolls and drawings • Very important as it does not introduce fantasy

18. Forensic Interview Room

19. Forensic Medical Exams • Medical exams are conducted by a medical provider specifically trained in sexual abuse examinations. • Provides exams for chronic sexual abuse which is 95% of cases. (ER is only set up to do an exam on acute sexual abuse which is those incidents that occurred within the previous 72 hours). • Very little physical evidence is found in medical exams. • A study by Heger et al. (2002) reported that out of 2384 children reporting abuse, 95.6% had a normal medical exam. • The same study showed that of those with abnormal medical exams, only 8% were diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases and/or acute or healed genital injuries.

20. Forensic Medical Exams • Although most children reporting sexual abuse may have normal medical exams, medical exams are still important to conduct. • The purpose of the medical exam is to: • Ensure the health and safety of the child • Identify and provide treatment for any medical conditions related to the abuse • Provide comfort and reassurance to the child and non-offending family members • Document forensically significant findings

21. Medical Exam Room

22. Therapeutic Intervention • Therapy is provided for children who have had a forensic interview at the center and have made a disclosure of abuse. • Therapy will be provided by or supervised by a licensed professional counselor with training in trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy. • Therapy is never provided by the same person who conducted the forensic interview.

23. Multi-Disciplinary Team • Many agencies participate including: • Law enforcement • Guardian ad Litem • Mental Health Providers: Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons, Children’s Place Inc., Aiken Barnwell Mental Health • Solicitor’s office • School district • Department of Social Services (DSS) • Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) • Team makes recommendations for action including prosecution of perpetrators, decisions regarding the child’s home and family situations, and mental health referrals.

24. How A Child Comes To Us

25. What You Can Do • Listen to children and educate yourself about abuse. • Make reports of abuse to law enforcement and/or DSS. • If a child discloses to you, it is important to make a report and allow these agencies to determine the validity of the allegations. • Make donations to or volunteer at agencies assisting abused children.

26. References • Deblinger, E., & Heflin, A. H. (1996). Treating Sexually Abused Children and Their Nonoffending Parents: A Cognitive Behavioral Approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. • Heger, A., Ticson, L., Velasquez, O., & Bernier, R. (2002). Children referred for possible sexual abuse: Medical findings in 2384 children. Child Abuse and Neglect, 26, 645-659. • London, K., Bruck, M., Ceci, S. J., & Shuman, D. W. (2005). Disclosure of child sexual abuse: What does the research tell us about the ways that children tell? Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 11(1), 194-226. • United States Department of Health and Human Services. (2008). Child Maltreatment 2006. Accessed on December 02, 2008, retrieved from: http://www.childwelfare.gov/ systemwide/statistics/ can.cfm

27. Alyssa Lies by: Jason Michael Carroll My little girl met a new friend, just the other day, on the playground at school between the tires and the swings But she came home with tear-filled eyes, and she said to me "Daddy, Alyssa lies" Well I just brushed it off at first, cause I didn't know how much my little girl had been hurt or the things she had seen. I wasn't ready when I said "You can tell me" and she said... Alyssa lies to the classroom, Alyssa lies everyday at school, Alyssa lies to the teachers as she tries to cover every bruise My little girl laid her head down that night to go to sleep. As I stepped out the room, I heard her say a prayer so soft and sweet "God bless my mom and my dad and my new friend, Alyssa I know she needs you bad" Because Alyssa lies to the classroom, Alyssa lies everyday at school, Alyssa lies to the teachers as she tries to cover every bruise I had the worst night of sleep in years as I tried to think of a way to calm her fears I knew exactly what I had to do but when we got to school on Monday I heard the news My little girl asked me why everybody looked so sad. The lump in my throat grew bigger with every question that she asked. Until I felt the tears run down my face and I told her that Alyssa wouldn't be at school today Cause she doesn't lie in the classroom she doesn't lie anymore at school Alyssa lies with Jesus because there's nothin' anyone would do. Tears filled my eyes, when my little girl asked me why Alyssa lies. Oh Daddy Tell Me Why Alyssa lies