|
Dear Friend,
I've had to tell a small five-year-old boy that his parents
are unable to take him home again. I've placed infants
into the arms of couples on the basis of my
professional judgment that the child will be safe and
well cared for by a forever adoptive family. I've seen
the legacy of abuse. By far, the Center for Child
Protection has been the hardest job that I've ever been
asked to do. We must hear each child. Our successful
intervention or failure can determine the outcome of a
young life. We have a critical, maybe one time,
opportunity to offer services that can make the
difference in the restoration of a child's spirit and
well-being. The Center must have the resources to
secure what the child needs at the time the child
needs it.
We are very near to having a Center that will serve the
needs of thousands of tomorrow's
children...tomorrow's children of grief and pain.
|
April is Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Month
|
|
Celebrate and remember the children in your life by
wearing a blue ribbon this April. The blue ribbon is
symbolic of Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention
month, which is recognized nationally. The
observance was started by Bonnie Finney of Virginia
who tied the first blue ribbon to her van as a sign of
her commitment to stop child abuse. The ribbon was
also in memory of her grandson, Michael, who was
murdered. The color blue represents the color of a
healing bruise to serve as a constant reminder to fight
for children in peril. By turning her grief
into action, she started
a movement dedicated to the protection of children.
In our own community, Austin rallied to create
a stronger net of protection for all children after the
death of two-year-old Christopher Wohlers in 1990.
Public agencies and many concerned adults spent
long hours to establish the Center for Child Protection
as the only nonprofit in our community involved in the
investigation of crimes against children. To be a
children's advocacy center, we must offer a
child-friendly environment and collaborate with law
enforcement, child protective services and
prosecution. This child-centered environment and
collaboration makes all the difference.
|
|
Center for Child Protection Nearing Move to new Kozmetsky Facility
|
|
The Center for Child Protection will soon move to a
greatly expanded, new facility this spring. Our new
Center with serve children of all ages. Located in
East Austin near the intersection of FM 969 and
Decker Ln., the new Kozmetsky Center is the
culmination of a long-held plan to better serve all child
victims of crime. The Center's
current property on East 32nd Street is currently on the
market; proceeds from the sale will benefit children at
our new site. We anticipate moving in May should
construction schedules remain the same.
The new Kozmetsky building will
provide space for
many new resources and programs for children. Five
forensic interview rooms will enable five traumatized
children to talk about their victimization. An expanded
therapy wing will accomodate children and adults
attending individual therapy, play therapy, and a variety
of therapeutic
groups, so they can begin to process and recover
from the hardships they have endured. A separate
medical wing will allow space for more children to
receive abuse examinations and necessary medical
care for their well-being. This new
facility will help us reach two goals for increasing our
ability to serve more children this year: 1) We plan
to make available our interview services to all child
victims, not just those under age 13, and 2) We intend
to expand the medical services available for child
victims. I hope you will make plans to celebrate the
Grand Opening of the new Kozmetsky Center for Child
Protection this fall. Mark your calendar for September
17, and we'll be sure to keep you updated on our
progress.
|
|
|
