The Community Church at Tellico Village (CCTV) wanted to make a difference in the lives of victims of child abuse, so they recently had a special campaign to raise money for the Kids First Child Advocacy Center of the 9th Judicial District (CAC).
The center was established through legislative action and began serving children in Loudon, Meigs, Morgan and Roane counties in April 2002.
Since that time, CAC has received more than 6,500 referrals from the Department of Children’s Services and Law Enforcement!
SAFETY & BOUNDARIES
The CAC provides clinical and therapeutic services — including initial intake and interventions needed for healing complex trauma caused by child abuse.
To date, the Kids First Child Advocacy Center has served more than 4,500 victims and their non-offending caregivers. Additionally, CAC has provided a school-based intervention/prevention program — Stop Child Abuse and Neglect or SCAN — to more than 4,000 students enrolled in kindergarten, first, third, fifth and seventh grades within the 9th Judicial District.
Through a puppet show and other age-appropriate discussion activities, children learn about safety and boundaries and who to tell if they find themselves in a situation that makes them uncomfortable.
CAC also provides a school-based Teen Mom Education/Support Program that serves Loudon High School.
'JOURNEY OF HEALING'
The Community Church at Tellico Village collected $11,156 in a month-long campaign to support the services provided by CAC.
Dr. Steve Prevatte, the senior pastor at CCTV, stated: “Our church feels it is important to care for children in our community who need support and interventions to escape situations that no child should ever have to endure.”
In addition to financial support, members of CCTV serve as volunteers at CAC, providing hands-on assistance, as needed.
CAC Executive Director Chris Evans-Longmire remarked that “When the CAC first opened its doors in 2002, the Community Church of Tellico Village provided financial support as well as a host of volunteers to perform administrative duties.
"Now, more than 20 years later, CCTV continues to support and make possible services to children that have suffered severe acts of child abuse — through contributions, donations and as a community partner.
"We are extremely grateful to the church leadership and church members for helping child abuse victims begin their journey of healing. … Without a Child Advocacy Center, many of these children would not be heard, served, supported and given the chance to not only be safe but to begin living the life a child should enjoy … free of pain, fear and shame.”
To find out more about the Child Advocacy Center, go to https://www.kidsfirsttn.org.
For information about the Community Church at Tellico Village, go to https://www.tellicochurch.com.
