Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Ryan McGill
Children’s Advocacy Center of Walker County has taken a creative approach to raising awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Recently, the staff of the center, with the help of volunteers, placed over 1400 pinwheels on their lawn. The pinwheels symbolize the center’s commitment to preventing child abuse and promoting the well-being of children and families in the community.
The pinwheels on the center’s lawn are not just a symbolic decoration, however. They represent the 1400-plus children who have received forensic interviews at the center over the past ten years.
Children’s Advocacy Center of Walker County is a safe and supportive environment where children who have been victims of abuse can receive a wide range of services to help them recover and heal. One of the core services offered by the center is forensic interviews. These interviews are conducted in a private and age-appropriate room by a trained forensic interviewer using the NCAC Forensic Interview model. The interview is recorded and remotely observed by representatives from the agencies involved in the investigation. These interviews aim to elicit the child’s unique information and address any investigative and protective concerns at one time in a developmentally appropriate and legally sound manner.
In addition to forensic interviews, the center provides advocacy, counseling, and education to children and families. The services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and their family, focusing on helping them overcome the trauma they have experienced. The center also collaborates with other agencies involved in the protection of children, providing support for child abuse investigations, and working closely with law enforcement and child protective services.
“The pinwheels are just one way we can bring awareness to our community that there is a problem with child abuse in this community, and the country at large, and we’re working hard to address it, bring healing to the children and families, and hopefully prevent it,” said Executive Director Johnny Sudberry.
Each pinwheel on the lawn symbolizes hope and a commitment to preventing child abuse and promoting the well-being of children and families in the community as Children’s Advocacy Center of Walker County continues to work to provide the necessary resources and support to those affected by child abuse. WL
Children’s Advocacy Center of Walker County is located at 1619 Alabama Avenue in Jasper. For more information, please contact (205) 387-8324 or visit walkercountycac.org
