“The weather forecast for Friday is 86 degrees and sunny. We want to invite you to show your support for child abuse victims by putting on your tennis shoes and walking in the Hometown Heroes Walk for Children,” encouraged Child Advocacy Center Board President Terry Fann.
The Child Advocacy Center is celebrating Child Abuse Awareness Month with the Hometown Heroes Walk for Children on Friday afternoon, April 29, 2016 downtown on the square at the Murfreesboro Civic Plaza. Registration will begin at 12:00 noon, speakers at 12:45 p.m., and the Walk will begin at 1:00 p.m. The event will conclude with a reception at the Child Advocacy Center, located at 1040 Samsonite Blvd. Rover will be available to transport walkers back to the Civic Plaza after the reception.
The Child Advocacy Center is a non-profit agency that works as a multidisciplinary team with Department of Children’s Services, law enforcement, and the District Attorney’s Office to respond to child abuse cases and investigate the allegations. The Department of Children’s Services protects children, law enforcement arrests perpetrators, the District Attorney’s Office aggressively prosecutes offenders, while the Child Advocacy Center helps child victims and their families heal from the trauma of the abuse.
In the last 16 years, the Child Protective Investigative Team has investigated 12,237 child abuse cases and assisted 17,311 individuals in Rutherford and Cannon Counties. It is not enough to respond to child sexual abuse, the Child Advocacy Center wants to prevent it from happening. The “Darkness to Light” child sexual abuse prevention program has taught 6,400 parents, grandparents, and professionals the steps to take to protect children from child sexual abuse, how to recognize the signs and symptoms of child sexual abuse, and react responsibly by reporting the crime to the authorities.
In the State of Tennessee all child abuse, child sexual abuse, and drug endangered children are reported to the Department of Children’s Services at 1-877-237-0004. This is the first step in activating the multi-disciplinary response of the Child Protective Investigative Team.
“We are excited about our new event, the Hometown Heroes Walk for Children. The proceeds from the Walk will support critically needed services for child abuse victims and the work of the multi-disciplinary team,” continued Fann. “The only thing that would make it better is if YOU would join us on Friday afternoon. We would like to have a huge crowd of walkers showing our children how much our community supports them.”
To pre-register for the Walk or if you have questions, contact Jessica Wauchek at the Child Advocacy Center at 615-867-9000 or jessicawauchek@bellsouth.net. You can also register at the Murfreesboro Civic Plaza on Friday afternoon from 12:00 – 12:45 p.m.
