Advocacy Center is here for abused
In response to the letter titled “What Will It Take to Stop Child Abuse,” I would like to offer hope and encouragement by letting the community know of the great work of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County (CACHC).
The first step to preventing child abuse is to report it. By law, everyone in the state of Tennessee is a mandated reporter. That means if you suspect child abuse, you should report it to 1-877-237-0004.
When children are alleged victims of sexual abuse or severe physical abuse, they can come to the CACHC for help, hope and healing. It provides an environment where children speak to trained professionals. Advocacy services are offered to non-offending caregivers. Free counseling is available to children. Last year, the CACHC provided those services to almost 600 children in Hamilton County.
Finally, educating the public can stop child abuse. The CACHC provides free child abuse prevention classes to community members and professionals who work with children. Last year, more than 2,000 adults were trained in how to recognize, respond and report child abuse.