Center aims to make a difference
A barbecue on the shore of Lake Arthur sounds like a typical summer outing.
But Aug. 3's fundraiser for the Butler County Alliance for Children is for a no-nonsense cause: protecting and helping the youngest of crime victims.
The mission of the alliance is to place the needs of victimized children and their nonoffending caregivers first and to reduce trauma throughout investigations of child maltreatment and abuse.
Money is needed because the child advocacy center's case load continues to increase as more and more instances of child maltreatment are referred to the agency for investigation.
Since the agency was formed in January 2014, the alliance has provided services to 602 young victims — the vast majority of cases, 516, being sexual abuse, according to Denna Hays, the executive director.
“We do two a year, the barbecue and Strike Out Child Abuse bowling event in April, which is Child Abuse Awareness Month at Family Bowlaway,” said Hays.
“Last year, we made $6.000 at the barbecue and $6,500 at the bowling event. We hope to make more this year.”
What makes the work more difficult, Hays said, is that “the community at large doesn't know what we do, and there is some confusion because the staff used to work at Butler County Children and Youth Services.”
Hays was the center's first employee and served its first child client April 30, 2014.
Sue Counts, the agency's forensic interviewer, was hired in November 2014 when she retired from Children and Youth Services.
Hays said too often children are interviewed by policemen — who aren't necessarily trained to deal with young children — in a police station, the back of a patrol car or at school.
Hays said the center provides a safe, child-focused environment, with its brightly painted interview rooms.
“My specialty is forensic interviewing,” said Counts. “It's asking non-leading questions targeted to those 18 and under.”
Interviews can be viewed in a separate conference room by police officers and prosecutors.
“We provide forensic interviewing, forensic medical exams, multidisciplinary team coordination, case reviews, criminal case tracking and offer the family team support and services,” said Hays.
It has a deal with Butler County Memorial Hospital to provide doctors for medical exams.
References come from police departments throughout the county and the district attorney's office.
Butler County Children and Youth Services refers cases to the alliance, Counts said, “When there is an allegation of victimization, it could be sexual but not always, and CYS wants a forensic interview, a medial exam or if it's an especially complex case.”Hays said it's a place where child welfare officials, law enforcement, medical professionals, prosecutors and victim advocates can meet to organize a response to child abuse allegations.And Hays and Counts said most of the alleged crimes are sexual in nature.Counts said, “It's not unique to this county. The sexual crimes are dominant, despite the perception it doesn't happen.”Hays said the alliance is averaging five to eight new cases a week.“The internet opens a whole new level of complexity,” said Hays. “The ability of kids to communicate with strangers they think are friends, they can hook up with people all over the world.”“The biggest issue is exploitation online, and it's not just adults, teens are exploiting each other,” said Hays.For example, teens when dating will send each other nude photos, but often those nudes get sent elsewhere and make it onto the internet.Hays said she expects reports to grow because of changes in state law that followed in the wake of the Penn State Jerry Sandusky case.“There's been a push for more reporting, expanding the definitions to include things that weren't included before, and more of an effort to work for the benefit of the child,” said Hays.The Butler County Alliance for Children is located at 1015 E. Jefferson St. in Butler. To contact the organization, call 724-431-3689, email info@butlercountycac.org or visit www.butlercountycac.org to buy barbecue tickets.
Since January 2014Child victims: 602 (214 male, 388 female)Age of victim: 0-6, 141; 7-12, 204; 13-18, 257Relationship of alleged offender to child: Parent, 152; Stepparent, 23; Other Relative, 97; Parent’s boyfriend/girlfriend, 25; other known person, 171; unknown, 47Initial Types of Abuse Reported: Sexual abuse, 516; Child Pornography, 32; Child Trafficking, 5; Physical abuse, 73; Neglect, 20; Illegal Drug Exposure, 25; Mental Abuse, 5; Potential Witness to Act of Child Abuse, 2; Witness to Adult Domestic Violence, 1; Witness to Violent Criminal Act, 2; Other, 19
