Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center Earns National Accreditation
Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center in Wilkesboro has been awarded accreditation by the National Children’s Alliance following an extensive application and site review process. It’s the highest level of membership conferred by NCA and denotes excellence in service provision.
“This is such an achievement for this center and this team,” said Safe Spot executive director Cindy Hartley. “It’s a reflection of the good work done by this team and this center every day.” Safe Spot provides specialized services to help children and families in Wilkes County affected by sexual abuse or severe physical abuse. The center sees, on average, about 100 children a year, referred by local law enforcement agencies and Wilkes County DSS. Center helps investigate suspected abuse “Child advocacy centers like Safe Spot offer a coordinated approach to child abuse investigations,” Ms. Hartley said. Safe Spot interviews children who may have been abused in its facility located off School Street in Wilkesboro. The child is interviewed one-on-one while investigators look on remotely from another room in the center. “Our interviews are conducted by trained professionals in a child-centered, non-leading way. Interviews are recorded and can be used in court. This minimizes the number of times a child must tell their story,” Ms. Hartley said. When victim statements are obtained by trained forensic interviewers, prosecutors accept more cases and conviction rates go up, the National Institute of Justice reports. Brenner Children’s Hospital, Safe Spot’s medical partner, provides specialized medical evaluations. Support for children and families Safe Spot offers services to help children and teens heal after abuse. Safe Spot’s contracted mental health partner is Jodi Province Counseling Services. JPCS therapists evaluate children for possible trauma and use evidence-based approaches to address it, all at no charge to the family, thanks to financial support from Safe Spot. “We routinely recommend therapy for children we see at Safe Spot,” Ms. Hartley said. “Therapy helps children bounce back. When children get the right help at the right time, they really can heal.” Safe Spot provides information and support to non-offending caregivers. “Parents come to us confused and overwhelmed,” Ms. Hartley said. “We help them understand that what happened was not their fault and not their child’s fault. We walk them through the investigation process and serve as an intermediary between investigators and the family. Our advocate is there for them every step of the way.” Promoting teamwork and accountability Safe Spot is the organizing entity for the Wilkes County Multidisciplinary Team, a group of local professionals that meets regularly to coordinate child abuse investigations, prosecutions and victim care. The group includes law enforcement officers, child protective services investigators, therapists, an assistant district attorney, child advocates and others. “We’re there to advocate for the child and keep things child centered,” Ms. Hartley said. Team members bring knowledge from different areas, ask questions and share concerns as they examine all aspects of a case. Team members hold themselves accountable to keep investigations on track and help children recover after abuse. Accreditation a symbol of teamwork To gain accreditation, Safe Spot had to demonstrate compliance with ten national standards set by the National Children’s Alliance. NCA updated the standards in 2017 to reflect the most recent evidence-based practices in the field of child abuse intervention and prevention. According to these standards, Accredited Members must utilize a functioning and effective multidisciplinary team approach to work collaboratively in child abuse investigation, prosecution, and treatment. National Children’s Alliance also considers standards regarding a center’s cultural competency and diversity, forensic interviews, victim support and advocacy, medical evaluation, therapeutic intervention, and child-focused setting. Members of the Wilkes Multidisciplinary Team have been working toward the establishment of an accredited child advocacy center since 2011. Safe Spot executive director Cindy Hartley said the team worked diligently together to achieve this recognition. “The accreditation plaque is a physical representation of the meaningful work done day in and day out by Safe Spot and its partners. We’re working together to bring hope and healing to hurting children, and that’s hugely important.” “Safe Spot is to be commended for its excellent work serving victims of child abuse. As the national association and accrediting body for children’s advocacy centers across the country, our goal is to ensure that every victim of child abuse has access to high quality services that result from professional collaboration,” said Teresa Huizar, executive director of National Children’s Alliance. Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center is currently a program of the Health Foundation, Inc. Safe Spot is expected to become an independent non-profit organization in fall 2022. |
New Safe Spot Center Opens, Targets Child Abuse Cases
By Frances Hayes
The Journal-Patriot November 14, 2014 Child abuse cases will be solved and prosecuted more successfully with a new child advocacy center in Wilkes County, said Kisa Posey, assistant district attorney for the 23rd judicial district. A grand opening for the new center, Safe Spot, was held Thursday afternoon. It’s in a renovated 1,200-square-foot facility at 1260 College Ave., Wilkesboro, and is next to Sheltered Aid for Families in Emergency (SAFE), which sponsors the center. Safe Spot provides better coordination between the agencies involved in child abuse cases. It also means children do not have to go out of town for the interview process and only have to be interviewed once, said Mrs. Posey. She said it could take as long as a year and a half to two years for child abuse cases to be prosecuted. Getting the information soon and having the story on a DVD helps in getting a conviction. Opening A crowd attended the 2 p.m. opening Nov. 13 including members of the Lowe's Heroes who helped to renovate the space. Safe Spot provides comprehensive, community-based services to children and families affected by sexual abuse or severe physical abuse. The child friendly center has been created as a nonthreatening spot for children who have been abused, said Shellie Bowlin, coordinator for Safe Spot. “It a sad fact. Child sexual abuse is a big problem in Wilkes. But Safe Spot will improve care for abused children and will aid in the investigation and prosecution of crimes against children,” said Mrs. Bowlin, during the grand opening. She said a multidisciplinary team from the Wilkes Department of Social Services, law enforcement, mental health, Guardian ad Litem, district attorney and the public school system have been meeting for the past two years to collaborate cases. “Communication has really opened up with the meetings and there is less duplication from the different agencies,” said Mrs. Bowlin. A local therapist, Jodi Province, is also a member of the team. Mrs. Province and three other local therapists, Erica Walker, Amber Dillard and Michelle Salley, have completed a year-long training program in Trauma-Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. “The therapy is a proven approach to help kids heal after abuse,” said Mrs. Bowlin. Mrs. Walker, acting director for SAFE, stressed that therapy cleans out the wound for children so healing can begin. “It used to be people thought an abused child was broken, but that is not true now,” said Mrs. Walker. “It takes a team to put a dent in this problem and it took a team to build this beautiful center. This wonderful place is a visible example of what can happen when people work together,” said Mrs. Bowlin. The center has been the site of several child abuse interviews for the past month. Those interviews are done by one of four trained people in a comfortable, nonthreatening space. A one-way zoom camera allows for people involved in the case, such as law enforcement, to watch the interview while the interview is in a nearby conference room. The camera is placed near the ceiling and is covered by a small wooden replica of a doghouse to make it less threatening to a child. The animal theme is seen throughout the center with dog paws near the entrance. The exam room is filled with hand designed and painted animals on the wall and ceiling to distract children while they are being examined. The exam room will be used once a supervisor is hired, said SAFE officials. They expect that to occur by early 2015. Donors Mrs. Bowlin thanked the following contributors for their assistance with SAFE Spot. They include The Health Foundation, Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation, The Cannon Foundation and the N.C. Community Foundation. Wilkes Community College (WCC) students provided extensive work on the center. They include building construction students under Dwight Hartzog who built the center; Michael Wingler, WCC associate vice president of information technology and students in that area who designed the video recording system; Erin Guffey, WCC student who created the Spot logo and Matthew Jordan, WCC graduate who assisted with the development of the building plans. In-kind donations were made by Key City Furniture, McLean Floor Coverings and Office Furniture Concepts. Dwaine Swink and Cubic Design Group designed the space and helped supervise construction. Lowe's Heroes Team, under Curtis Parker and Josh Brown who provided 60 volunteers working 500 hours. Recognition level donors are Julius C. Hubbard Jr., Mr. & Mrs. James Cook, Mr. and Mrs. Tim Murphy and Judge and Mrs. Julius Rousseau Jr. “We appreciate all the caring folks from across the community who contributed to the center’s fundraising drive. You have all played an invaluable role in bringing a brighter day to abused children in Wilkes and we appreciate you all,” said Mrs. Bowlin. |
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Multi-year Initiative to Prevent Child Abuse Launched
By Frances Hayes
The Journal Patriot January 2015 Three local nonprofit agencies are launching a five-year program to help prevent child sexual abuse by training parents, teachers and others who work with children. Joining the Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center in sponsoring “Stewards of Children” are Communities In Schools (CIS) of Wilkes County and Wilkes Community Partnership for Children. The goal is to train 5 percent of the adult population of Wilkes County in “Stewards of Children,” a national multi-year program to prevent child sexual abuse, said Tim Murphy, family advocate for the SAFE Spot Child Advocacy Center. Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center has assisted 100 sexually abused children in Wilkes since 2014, said Murphy. It was developed by Darkness to Light, a Charleston, S.C. nonprofit agency. “Stewards of Children” is recognized as a model program by the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, said Murphy. On Wed., Jan. 27, 48 community leaders, including school officials and others who work with children, attended a community awareness event at the Kulynych Family Life Center in Wilkesboro, launching “Stewards of Children.” The meeting Wednesday gave those attending a preview of the training and was designed to motivate them to take the training, organize a training and get their workplace involved as a partner in training, said Murphy. The program, includes a free two-hour training called “Darkness to Light,” that teaches participants how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. The training features the video stories of survivors who find hope after abuse. Following the video, training participants discuss child safety issues and develop personal plans to take action on what they learn in the training. Murphy, Glendora Yarbrough, CIS executive director and her staff and Susan Cogdill, executive director for Wilkes Community Partnership for Children and members of her staff, have received the training. “The training changes you,” said Yarbrough. “It makes you more aware of your surroundings and makes you question why someone is hanging out there.” Yarbrough said it moved her on an emotional level and also made her aware of safety precautions for CIS and the children it serves. The 150 CIS volunteers and board members are required to take the training now, said Yarbrough. Cogdill received the “Darkness to Light” training several years ago. “I was sold on offering it in Wilkes when Glendora mentioned it. Even after two times I find “Darkness to Light” training riveting. “It moves me emotionally each time and makes me understand the responsibility that we all have to prevent child abuse,” said Cogdill. Partnership for Children staff will all receive the Stewards of Children training so they can support the trainings for childcare providers in Wilkes, said Cogdill. The training will also be provided for the Wilkes Partnership for Children board. The training efforts began last November and about 100 adults are already trained, including BROC Head Start staff and employees at the Wilkes County Public Library. People attending the Wednesday session watched the video hearing stories of survivors of sexual abuse. Murphy led the discussion following the video. One person noted that sexual abuse used to be something you suspected but did nothing about. In the 1980s people were more afraid of their children being abducted. “Now we know the real danger is someone who children know because in most cases of sexual abuse, the perpetrator is someone the child trusts, but shouldn’t,” said Murphy. By the numbers from this week’s meeting, it looks like the agencies hope to provide Stewards of Children training to 2,000 Wilkes County adults over the next five years could be well under-way. Organizers hope to train 400 adults this year. Of those attending, 35 were from government agencies, private non-profits, churches, schools, youth serving organizations and private businesses. Seventeen have already said they will take the next training and eight are interested in doing it at a later date, said Murphy. Twenty-two want to host training and 11 are interested in sponsoring a program at their workplace, said Murphy. “By reaching five percent of our adult population, we’ll reach a tipping point where abuse prevention starts to become second nature in the community,” said Murphy to the group. Future trainings will target parents and adults who work with youth. Organizers said their goal is to see abuse prevention practices become commonplace everywhere kids are, including homes, schools, churches and all youth activities. The agencies are actively seeking community institutions that can organize and host trainings for professionals and parents. The next open Stewards of Children training is Wed, Feb. 17, 1-3 p.m. at the Wilkes County Public Library in North Wilkesboro. The training is free and the public is invited to participate. Organizers said there is an urgent need for the training. When unreported and untreated, child sexual abuse can cause many immediate and long-term health problems, including mental illness, substance abuse and chronic disease, said Murphy. The average lifetime cost per victim of child sexual abuse is $212,012. Next to murder, child sexual abuse is the most expensive crime in America, said Murphy. The Stewards of Children abuse prevention initiative has received grant support from the United Way of Wilkes County, The Health Foundation, Inc. and the Kulynych Family Foundation. More information about upcoming trainings and online registration is available at www.safespotwilkes.org/stewards. |
Organizers announced an ambitious goal to train 5% of the adult population of Wilkes County in "Stewards of Children", a child sexual abuse prevention curriculum, over the next five years |
Lowe's Employees Give Safe Spot a Child-Friendly Makeover
September 2014
Abused children in Wilkes County have a cheery, child friendly place to get help, thanks to the efforts of Lowe’s employees. About 40 employees at Lowe’s Customer Support Center in Wilkesboro recently donated their time and talent to add child friendly touches to the new Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center. The workers participated as part of a Lowe’s Heroes team. The Lowe’s Heroes program is a company-wide initiative that offers employees opportunities to work on renovation projects in local schools and non-profits. Team co-captains Josh Brown and Curtis Parker said they reviewed several project possibilities, but in the end, their sympathy for the plight of abused children led them to select the child advocacy center. “While our Lowe’s Heroes team set out to serve and make a difference in the community by helping others, it did not take us long to realize that the real heroes are at Safe Spot. It was an honor and a true privilege to serve in this capacity and, above all, a very humbling experience that left us feeling truly blessed,” Parker said. All told, 39 employees devoted 523 hours of volunteer time to the project. Lowe’s donated $2,780 in materials at store cost. Team members collected an additional $322 to provide stuffed animals and journals to children seen at the center. Safe Spot officials say they appreciate the effort and creative flair that went into creating the facility’s new look. “We’re so grateful to the Lowe’s Heroes,” said Shellie Bowlin, the child advocacy center’s coordinator. “They gave our center a warm, child friendly atmosphere that everyone comments on.” “Our volunteers transformed a bland, cold office space into something amazing,” Parker said. “The interior décor was specifically designed to let children know this is truly a safe spot for them.” Workers painted accent walls, installed whimsical wall graphics, brought in furnishings and added Spot, the center’s canine mascot, to two walls. A small team led by Reene Parker transformed SAFE Spot’s medical room into an undersea world with whales, dolphins, colorful tropical fish, an octopus and Spot, sporting a snorkel, all painted freehand. “What the team took on in the medical room was huge,” Mrs. Bowlin said. “Medical procedures can be scary to children. They will be more relaxed in this comforting environment.” In the center’s interview room, team leader Curtis Parker designed and built a small replica doghouse for Spot, with help from Carolina Heritage Cabinetry of North Wilkesboro. The team also renovated the adjacent SAFE offices, improving privacy and adding a client consultation room. “The team worked hard and they were very caring people,” Safe Spot victim advocate Carla Holmes said. “They were just as excited about it as we were.” Heroes team participants include: Addrena Clemens, Alexandra Capecci, Brenda Parker, Cole Susi, Eva Adams-Myers, Grey Triplett, Heather Whitley, Holly Richardson, Honey Susi, Jacklyn Richardson, Jason Spradlin, Joseph Gryder, Kamela Hemric, Kathi Johnson, Kathy Houck, Kelly Lyon, Kimby Page, Kristee Huffman, Laquanta Baxter, Megan Hutchins, Michael Wagoner, Michelle Miller, Mike Winesette, Natalia Ceballos, Patricia Duncan, Phillip Smith, Reene Parker, Rick Neudorff, Ryan Falise, Shannon Massengill, Sherry Dancy, Stefan Susi, Tamera Miller, Teresa Ray, Terri Waddell, Wanda Parker and Wendy Sherwood and Co-Captains Curtis Parker and Josh Brown. Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center is located in a 1,200 square foot facility adjacent to the SAFE, Inc. offices off School Street in Wilkesboro. Safe Spot will provide comprehensive community-based services to children and families affected by child sexual abuse or severe physical abuse. Some victim services, including forensic interviews, mental health therapy, victim advocacy and case coordination, are already being provided by the center and its partners. Medical services will be added soon. The center’s multidisciplinary team has been meeting monthly since January 2013 to coordinate investigations and improve community response to victims. The team includes law enforcement officers, child protective services personnel, prosecutors, advocates and care providers. SAFE Spot is a service of SAFE, Inc., a United Way of Wilkes partner agency. |
More than three dozen Lowe's employees participated in the makeover, donating over 500 hours of their time to the project. |
New Therapy Helps Children Heal After Abuse
May 2014
Five year old Janie has a smile that could melt your heart, but behind that smile lurks a world of hurt. Janie (not her real name) was neglected by her drug addicted mother, and sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend. By the time authorities intervened, Janie was acting out at school, wetting the bed and having frequent nightmares. Janie is the type of child often referred to as “damaged goods”, a phrase that really bothers therapist Jodi Province. Province and her colleagues Amber Dillard, Michelle Salley and Erica Walker recently completed a year-long training program in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to help children like Janie heal after abuse. “These children not ‘damaged goods,’” Province says. “With TF-CBT, we have the tools to help them heal.” Therapy Helps Children Heal TF-CBT is an intensive therapy with a strong track record of helping children heal after abuse. In North Carolina, 90% of children treated benefit from TF-CBT. They sleep better, have fewer stress symptoms, and do better in school and at home. Janie’s therapist says TF-CBT worked for her. “Janie has made so much progress,” Michelle Salley reports. “It’s just amazing to see it work, see it click for her. She just talked, talked, talked, talked, talked about what she learned. This therapy can so empower kids. She knows the abuse was not her fault.” Over the course of 12 to 16 sessions, therapists guide children and their non-offending caregivers through a variety of activities designed to help them face and master traumatizing events. In therapy, children learn how to express feelings instead of acting them out. They also deal with cognitive distortions, the ‘stinking thinking’ that is common in abuse victims. “I’ve had clients tell me, ‘I’m broken. No one will ever love me.’ By the end of the process, they see things differently,” therapist Erica Walker says. Children also learn how to relax. “Children are often on high alert after trauma,” Province says. “Their senses are heightened and they are in defense mode.” Therapists teach children techniques they can use anywhere, anytime to help calm themselves. TF-CBT forces children to face their fears, a process many children and caregivers would rather skip. “Children want to avoid talking about the trauma, but avoiding is not healing,” Salley says. She compares the process of talking about abuse to the process of cleaning out a deep wound. It hurts, but it’s necessary for healing to occur. Not talking, especially in cases of sexual abuse, can be a bigger problem, therapists say. Keeping the subject taboo only magnifies the shame a child may already be feeling. With TF-CBT, children talk about their trauma gradually throughout the course of therapy. “It’s like wading into a cold pool a little bit at a time,” Province says. “The gradual exposure takes some of the sting out of it.” After many weeks of preparation, children are eventually ready to discuss the abuse in detail. By this point, they know how to manage their stress and they’ve challenged some of the distorted thinking about themselves and their abuser. “Telling the story in detail is like the reward at the end of a long race,” Walker says. “It’s the child’s opportunity to work through and reframe what happened.” Talking directly about the traumatic event helps reduce intrusive thoughts that can trigger physical symptoms. TF-CBT has many diverse components and they all work together, therapist Amber Dillard says. “Like a cake recipe, you have to have all the ingredients. By the end, the kids are in a much better place. Their symptoms decrease and they know so much more.” Program Involves Parents in the Healing Process Non-offending caregivers are included throughout the process. “A big part of TF-CBT is parent education,” Dillard notes. Parents learn specific techniques to handle problem behaviors, and they get support to address their concerns and help manage their own stress. This strong emphasis on parental involvement is important, says Tim Murphy, community educator at Safe Spot, a center serving abused children. “The way a victim’s family responds to abuse can make all the difference in the child’s ability to recover. Non-offending parents and caregivers want to help, but they don’t always know how. Most of them jump at the chance to be involved in their child’s therapy,” Murphy said. Over the past year, Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center has subsidized therapy for 33 child abuse victims. Thankfully, most of them did not require the most intensive treatment because their level of daily functioning did not require it. Therapist training was provided by the North Carolina Child Treatment Program, a partnership between the Duke-UCLA National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, the Center for Child and Family Health and the School of Medicine the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Financial support for local therapist training is being provided by The Health Foundation, Inc. The TFCBT therapists work at Jodi Province Counseling Services, a Safe Spot contractor. |
Helping Children Heal |
Ten Complete Course on How to Interview Abused Children
August 2013
Ten local professionals recently completed a week-long course on how to interview child abuse victims. The National Child Advocacy Center’s “Forensic Interviewing of Children” training course was provided by Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center Aug. 5-9, 2013 at First United Methodist Church in North Wilkesboro. The training was funded by a grant from the N.C. Governor’s Crime Commission. Forensic interviewers use child friendly, legally sound methods to gather factual information from children. Forensic interviews are often conducted in suspected cases of child sexual abuse or severe physical abuse. Participants learned how to establish rapport and elicit information impartially using NCAC’s Child Forensic Interview Structure, a research and practice-informed protocol. Training participants include Laurel Ashley of the Wilkes County Department of Social Services, Jennifer Becker, R.N. of Wilkes Regional Medical Center, Angie Church of the Wilkes County Schools, Cindy Coffey of the Wilkes Department of Social Services, Sonya Freeman of the Wilkes County Department of Social Services, Dee Fuentes of the Wilkes County Health Department, Det. Nancy Graybeal of the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office, Tim Murphy of SAFE, Inc., Jodi Province of Jodi Province Counseling Services, and Michelle Salley of Jodi Province Counseling Services. Andra Chamberlin, M.A., was the course’s lead instructor. Mrs. Chamberlin is a trainer and forensic interviewer with the National Children’s Advocacy Center in Huntsville, Ala. She has 23 years experience in child protection and 15 years experience conducting forensic interviews of children. Mrs. Chamberlin has testified as an expert witness and has presented forensic interview training at local, regional, state and national child abuse conferences. Attorney Justin Fitzsimmons taught the course’s legal topics section. Fitzsimmons is a research specialist with SEARCH, the National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics. For eleven years, Fitzsimmons served as an assistant state’s attorney in Kane and DuPage Counties, Ill., where he prosecuted cases involving sexual exploitation and digital evidence. Fitzsimmons has published articles, drafted legislation and presented trainings on child exploitation. |
Helping Abused Children Tell Their Stories |
Child Abuse Prevention Month Spotlight: Safe Spot
By Heather Dean The Record of Wilkes April 23, 2019 Safe Spot is a service of SAFE, Inc., which has had a presence in Wilkes since 1980. Created in 2013, the children’s advocacy center provides services to help children and families affected by sexual abuse or severe physical abuse. Safe Spot is part of the National Children’s Alliance and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of North Carolina. I spoke with Cindy Hartley, Program Director and Tim Murphy, Child and Family Advocate. Hartley has been the Director for a year and a half. She chairs Safe Spot’s multidisciplinary team and is responsible for the overall operation of the center. Cindy holds a bachelor’s degree in Child Development from Appalachian State University. She is a Wilkes County native, and has served children and families in the community for the past nine years. Cindy is part of a multi-agency team addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences in Wilkes County. Murphy is Safe Spot’s child and family advocate. Tim is the point of first contact for families at the center and coordinates care for children. Tim holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in counseling from Appalachian State University. Tim worked for 29 years as a counselor and teacher in the Wilkes County school system. He has been active in abuse prevention initiatives in Wilkes County since 2006. Safe Spot works with children 18 years and under. Murphy said they serve about 100 cases of child abuse a year, but stated since it is a grossly under-reported crime, there are more children who could be in need of help. Murphy teaches the “Stewards of Children” class, a free to the public child sexual abuse prevention curriculum to help adults to not only become more aware of the signs of abuse, but to help provide safe places for children. “As the education becomes ingrained in our communities, the cultures will change.” he said. Since 2015, he has trained over 1,300 people from the ages of 18-65. The goal is to have five percent of the Wilkes population take the training, about 2,000 people, by next year. The next Stewards of Children trainings are Saturday, May 4th, 9-11:30 a.m., and Saturday, May 11th, 8-10:30 a.m. Hartley and Murphy explained how there is a lot of teamwork that goes into making sure each and every case gets the attention it deserves- through monthly meetings and ongoing contacts, Safe Spot’s multidisciplinary team works together in an effort to ensure the safety of all Wilkes County children. Team members include 23rd District Attorney’s Office, 23rd District Guardian ad Litem Program, Jodi Province Counseling Services, North Wilkesboro Police Department, Wilkes County Department of Social Services, Wilkes County Schools, Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office, and Wilkesboro Police Department, who ask questions and share concerns as they examine all aspects of a case, holding themselves accountable to keep investigations on track and help children recover after abuse. Safe Spot is an investigative partner, but not part of the law enforcement process. They only take referrals from involved agencies, and the agency is present when they interview the children, to allow for as much transparency as possible and to be most effective in helping the children at risk. Hartley explained that several members of Safe Spot Wilkes are trained in the RADAR (Recognizing Abuse Disclosure Types and Responding.) interview process but that she and Murphy did most of them. And the advocates don’t stop there; they see the cases through, tracking the cases to the end, even after their initial involvement is done, being a liaison for the families, as many of them don’t know the legal jargon, court systems or what services are available to them. “They are entitled to information, and sometimes they don’t know where to find it. We put it into layman’s terms, help with the communication, and rechanneling energies so that they have realistic expectations of what’s going to happen.” Murphy said. Hartley is also a Resiliency Educator, a curriculum that discusses the body and brains response to trauma, what it looks like, what it feels like, and the long term effects of living in a fight or flight, submit or collapse environment. “The Adverse Childhood Experience Study (ACES) shows the changes a body and brain go through developmentally when under extreme duress in an abusive situation. We have seen that when a child lashes out instead of asking “What’s wrong with you?” assuming they are ADHD or just not well behaved, we can turn that into “What happened to you?” opening up a new line of communication finding the next steps for the hope and healing for this child. It’s truly a public health crisis. I hope my work helps inform the community, and that we can continue to help.” Hartley said. For more information on Safe Spot and other resources go to https://www.safespotwilkes.org, |
Childhood trauma is truly a public health crisis. I hope my work helps inform the community, and that we can continue to help. |
Safe Spot advocate, therapist honored at Great State Hero event
By Caroline Czerkawski
Wilkes Journal-Patriot September 14, 2018 United Way of Wilkes’ slogan, “Give, Advocate, Volunteer,” was fully in evidence Tuesday at the fourth annual Great State Hero event at the Stone Center for the Performing Arts in North Wilkesboro. Event sponsor was Great State Bank. The dinner and awards ceremony was the kickoff for the 2018 United Way of Wilkes County fundraising campaign. Twelve people were nominated to receive Great State of Wilkes Hero awards in the categories of crisis intervention, health improvement, education advancement and future generations. Amanda Perry, emcee and United Way board chairman, said, “We are here tonight to honor those who, with determination and compassion, are a beacon in the community.” Nominations were received from the community and winners were selected by a volunteer group from different sectors in the county. Wilkes Communications was the awards sponsor. Steve Handy from WKBC Radio introduced the nominees. A short video clip produced by River Street Production was also shown about each nominee. Tim Murphy of North Wilkesboro received the award for Crisis Intervention, which was sponsored by the Leonard G. Herring Family Foundation. Murphy has spent 40 years as a teacher, counselor and advocate for the children in Wilkes County. He is currently a family advocate for Safe Spot, Wilkes County’s child advocacy center, and works with non-offending caregivers of children who are suspected victims of child sexual abuse or severe physical abuse. Murphy also provides training in child sexual abuse prevention through Stewards of Children, and has trained over 1,200 people. “I am not a hero,” Murphy said, “I am part of a team full of heroes.” Like firefighters and rescue personnel, “We run to what people are repulsed by.” Jodi Province of Jodi Province Counseling Service and Joyce McQuerry, a volunteer with Samaritan Kitchen, were also nominated in this category. Winning the award for Health Improvement, sponsored by Wake Forest Baptist Health Wilkes Medical Center, was retired ophthalmologist Dr. John Oliver, who practiced in Wilkes for 43 years. He also served on the board of directors for Wilkes Regional Medical Center, served as Wilkes Regional’s chief of staff, and currently services on the Health Foundation’s board of directors. Oliver was noted for seeing patients without insurance and without charge, for making house calls to people who couldn’t get out and for allowing people to come to his home for visits. “I can’t say enough about our office staff,” Oliver said, “We created a practice to serve the people. I accept this award for them.” Other nominees in Health Improvement were Evelyn Lipford, a CNA with hospice and LaDara Absher, a CNA with the Senior Companion Program. Sylvia Robinson, who serves as board chairman for Wilkes Literacy and has volunteered with that organization for 15 years, won the award for Education Advancement, which was sponsored by an anonymous donor “in honor of Jesus Christ, My Lord and Savior.” Robinson has “tirelessly committed her time, her energy and her resources for the people of Wilkes County throughout her career as a teacher and coach and her work with nonprofit agencies.” She has continued volunteering even though she has battled cancer three times, and serves on the board of trustees for Wilkes Community College, on the board of CareNet of Wilkes and has served on the board of directors for the Wilkes Partnership for Children. Robinson said, “There is a special satisfaction in serving others. Wilkes Literacy is truly making a difference in Wilkes County.” Landon House, a community volunteer who is employed by Carolina West Wireless, and Loretta Harris, a foster grandparent at C.C. Wright School, were also nominated in Education Advancement. The winner in Future Generations, sponsored by McNeill Nissan, was Courtney Settle, who has served the community through the Air Force JROTC program. She was the cadet corps commander, “and was the epitome of what a cadet should be.” Settle also coaches other cadets in academics and to study for the best comprehension. “It gives me joy to help others,” Settle said. “This is very unexpected. I’m very thankful and privileged to be here.” Other nominees in Future Generations were Alex Gentry, a freshman at East Wilkes High School, who serves his community through Scouts, his church, home and school, and Leanna Earp, an Air Force JROTC member. Guest speaker was General J.R. Gorham of Kernersville, the first African-American brigadier general of the North Carolina National Guard. He currently serves as director of special projects for the N.C. Dept. of Public Safety and is an author and motivational speaker. A graduate of East Carolina University who grew up in the Falkland community near Greenville, Gorham spoke about the life lessons he learned from his sharecropper father, Roy “Joy” Gorham. He has compiled these lessons into a book, “Sharecropper’s Wisdom.” Following the dinner, Gorham autographed copies of his book. Dan Little, United Way campaign chairman, gave closing remarks, saying he was was happy to announce $75,000 has already been raised by the pacesetter group, toward the goal of $500,000. Thirty-six percent of the county uses United Way services in a year, he said. Pre-dinner piano music was provided by Sam Graham. Event entertainment was by Benjamin Barker, who played selections on the harp and hammered dulcimer. PSG Custom Fabrication sponsored the dinner, which was provided by Branciforte Brick Oven. |
Two members of Safe Spot Child Advocacy Center’s child protection team were honored Sept. 11 as nominees for the United Way’s Great State Hero Award. |