What is the Children's Advocacy Center of Cherokee County?

A Children's Advocacy Center is a place where children who have been physically or sexually abused can feel safe again. In our warm, home-like facility, children meet with specially-trained interviewers and receive counseling, when necessary.

The Children's Advocacy Center of Cherokee County represents a community response to abuse and neglect. Each case is monitored by a multidisciplinary team of law enforcement representatives, prosecutors, therapists, social workers, child advocates and medical care providers. We interview the children in a child-friendly environment and share the information that is obtained.

    By working together, we reduce the trauma children experience when they enter the justice system. It also helps us determine the needs of each child and his/her non-abusing family members while ensur­ing that the abuser is brought to justice.

Teaching Abuse Prevention

Since 1989, the CAC has been teaching guidelines for personal safety to school children in Cherokee County. Each year, approximately 3,000 students in head start programs and grades K-6 learn about child abuse prevention, good touches/bad touches, violence prevention and conflict resolution. This program has helped many children find the courage to disclose their abuse.

                Programs for Parents

Our parenting programs include education about child development, effective interaction and discipline, and helping children succeed in school. We also offer Co-Operative Parenting and Divorce classes to help parents learn to parent cooperatively after divorce. All parenting classes are offered at no cost to the participant.

Counseling Services

Children who are abused often need to work through their emotional pain and trauma. To help them with their healing process, the CAC of Cherokee County has a counselor available to provide individual counseling services for the children at no cost to their families.

Every child should have hopes and dreams for the future. But for too many children, hope has a different meaning. They wake up hoping that they won't be beaten. They go to bed hoping the monster won't come in the middle of the night. They hope that someone will notice their pain. They hope that someone will care.

It is for these children, and all others in Cherokee County, that the Children's Advocacy Center exists. We are working to make a difference in their lives by providing counseling and family intervention services in a safe and supportive environment. Our prevention programs teach the basics of personal safety to school children, giving them the confidence to speak up if they are threatened. In addition, we offer parenting classes to equip parents with necessary skills in order to prevent child abuse and foster loving homes.

    Ultimately, the goal of the Cherokee County CAC is to let every child feel safe enough to hope for the essentials of childhood - - love, laughter and joy.

Your donation can give hope to an abused child

Every year, more than 100 children and their families pass through our doors. Each one needs someone to care and help them feel safe. Each one needs a chance to feel hopeful again.

The CAC of Cherokee County never turns away a child in need. In order to maintain these services, we rely on assistance from the community. Your donation can help us continue our work to restore the joy of childhood to our community's youngest victims and keep them safe.

    Yes, I would like to make a donation                   Yes, I would like to become a volunteer
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____ $25 Friend                     ____ $500 Benefactor

____ $50 Patron                     ____ $ 1,000 Corporate

____ $100 Sponsor               $____ Other

____ $250 Advocate               ____ Contact me as a Volunteer

All donations are tax-deductible. Please mail to:

The Children's Advocacy Center

PO Box 587

Centre, AL 35960

256-927-2111   • 256-927-2110 Fax • ftcc@tds.net

 State Website: Alabama Network of Children's Advocacy Centers, Inc.
Local Contact: Cherokee County CAC
Webmaster Contact: Weislake.com