Every day in the newspapers, one reads about children sexually abused. But how often do you read about what is done to help these abused children and their families? What help is available? Where do parents receive help? What resources are available? How are these victimized children helped both psychologically and physically? How are the parents helped? What are their psychological needs? Do they ever get over what has happened to their children?
Our guest speaker this morning was Ms. Nancy Chandler, Executive Director of the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy. Formerly of Washington, D.C. (as of ten days ago) she is a certified, licensed clinical social worker, who has worked in the child advocacy field for many years. She has come to direct the Center’s efforts here in Georgia. [Georgia has the one of the worst records nationally for abused children receiving services.]
The Georgia Center of Child Advocacy offers a new way to serve sexually abused children. It uses a ‘comprehensive approach’ to extend needed services. Trained forensic investigators, psychologists, and other professionals, from a variety of agencies, ‘spearhead’ a ‘multi-disciplinary team’ to create a ‘child focused approach’ to help the abuse victim and their families obtain needed services.
For example, a three year old female victim requires services different from a 12 year old male, middle school victim. The forensic interviewer needs an interview room ‘age-pertinent’ to the victim’s approximate age. Teddy bears and picture books might be appropriate for the three year old’s interview, but a video game or board game or comic book might help the middle school aged child feel more comfortable.
The ‘Center’s goal’ is to insure abused children and their families are not‘re-victimized’ by the very system designed to protect them.
One in four girls and one in six boys under the age of 16 years old are sexually abused in the United States each year. Startling statistic! You bet!
Sexual perpetrators are divided into two categories: Situational offenders and Fixated offenders. Generally speaking, the situational offender is the type of person in a family dynamic where a male or female adult takes sexual advantage of children living in a family setting. [E.g. man remarries and his new wife has two teenaged daughters who live in their home.] Fixated offenders are individuals who are of another ilk. They are mentally deranged people who are sexual predators, in the worse meaning of the word. [Speaker mentioned that one underlying fact of all serial killers was that they were sexually abused as children]
All alleged child sexual victims are interviewed by trained forensic investigators and recorded for police officials.
Ms. Chandler said the Center is currently looking for office space, approximately 10,000-15,000 square feet, for new offices and interview rooms. If anyone has any ideas, please give her a call. Mr. George Scheer has the information.
Club member Jim Pilcher returned this morning after suffering a stroke 10 weeks ago. He thanked members for all their cards, letters, and flowers.
He also thanked his lovely, wife Lorene, who drove him to this morning’s meeting and for her efforts as nurse, ‘cheerleader’, chauffeur, and for her undying love and support through his ordeal. He said he would attend as many meetings as possible, but he is in ‘rehab’ now and had to learn how to walk again.
February 15th Annual Gala is fast approaching. Only 21 tickets have been purchased by Club members. 60+ tickets need to be sold quickly. Roni French, co-chair, is ‘pulling her hair out’ trying to get members to buy tickets and come to this important event. Co-chair Jerry Hitt has ‘no hair to pull out’, but has been ‘overheard’ recruiting Georgia Tech footballers upset with their new Navy head coach, to ‘do a number’ on the front lawns of ‘selected’ club members who won’t participate. Silent auction items are needed desperately.
Club President Sherry Neal mentioned this event will take place February 26th. Stay tuned for more details.
Next Division Council meeting is scheduled for Friday, February15th, 5pm, at the Ansley Golf Club prior to the GALA.
Mid winter conference and training are scheduled for February 23rd, at Wesleyan College in Macon.
This summit is scheduled for Saturday, January 26th from 11AM -5PM in Macon. District 1 leadership is sponsoring this event to provide the tools needed to build new clubs, strengthen existing clubs, and recruit new members.
Club member Yvonne Conway mentioned ‘Rising Leaders’ had a very fruitful meeting with guest speaker, Mr. Robert McMichael III, Music Director of the Central United Methodist Church.
Lantz Balthazar mentioned he has had no communication from the Club leaders recently. Yvonne Conway said she will ‘have a few words’ with the faculty advisor there who is an extended family member…and may be ‘kick it up a notch’.
Club member Angie Levin’s husband Jay is still very ill. Please keep them in your prayers and drop Angie a note. Her e-mail address is: Angela.Levin@inta.gatech.edu
If you change your e-mail address, please contact Sherry with the updated information.
Club members Fred Scheer and David Baker were spotted ‘clicking their sticks’ on their way to a comfortable ride home from this morning’s meeting in the ‘Pilcher Limo.’ Looked like the Montreal Canadians vs. the Buffalo sabers among the Huckabee political breakfast party. Hope they ‘tipped the driver’ well! Lorene takes no ‘guff’. Just ask Jim! He’s been in the ‘penalty box’ a time or two.
Back to the Newsletter Archive