Hello everyone, this is Hilary Chandler with the Franklin-Williamson Child Advocacy Center, AKA the "CAC ". This time in the newsletter you will find out about our building updates, upcoming training opportunities, The Blue Kid campaign, and ways you can help us at the CAC! We hope you enjoy reading a little update from us!

For the latest news and information, "Like" our Facebook page and follow us at:

https://www.facebook.com/franklinwilliamsoncac/

The Franklin-Williamson Child Advocacy Center

is dedicated to serving the best interests of children

who have been sexually or physically abused.

We, at the Center, are their Voice.

WE believe:

All children should be free of abuse and neglect.

All children should have the opportunity

to develop to their fullest potential in

a safe and loving environment.

It is in the best interest of abused children to have

collaboration among agencies

working on their behalf.

It is important to educate the public on the issues

of child abuse and neglect.

Every year in April we celebrate Child Abuse Prevention Month! Some people celebrate by wearing blue, putting a blue light bulb on their porch, making Facebook posts to draw attention to child abuse, and some people celebrate by sponsoring Blue Kids signage from the FWCAC!

Last year 220 children who reported sexual and severe physical abuse were referred to the FWCAC for support services. These are children from our very own communities in Franklin and Williamson counties. The FWCAC conducted 162 forensic interviews with these children and 58 children and families received FREE trauma focused counseling services.

For just a $100 tax deductible donation we place Blue Kid Signage outside of your home or business for the month of April to raise awareness and show support for the FWCAC! Blue kids and signage are delivered and put up in your yard or at your office by April 1st and are picked up in the beginning of May so you are able to show your support all month long! Not only does this draw attention to preventing child abuse it also shows support to your local CAC and helps us raise money for our center! We love driving around Franklin and Williamson county and seeing Blue Kids out raising awareness!

If you are interested in sponsoring Blue Kids for the month of April please contact the CAC at 618-942-3800.

Love home improvement projects and are handy with tools? We always have a "honey-do" list of projects that we hope to get completed and could use your time and talents to do so!

Love to cut coupons and buy in bulk?? We provide snacks for all of the children who come to our office for counseling, as well as, snacks for children after they complete their forensic interview. Juice boxes, individual bags of snacks, granola bars, mini bottles of water, and fruit snacks are always very much appreciate and in high demand around the office. We can also always use paper towels, toilet paper, Kleenex, Clorox wipes, Lysol Spray, etc

Do you have an interest in working with other community members and a desire to serve on the Board of Directors? Give us a call and let's talk!

There are so many creative ways that you can support your local CAC!

One project that is still in full swing here at the CAC is the addition and construction of a wheelchair ramp to ensure that our building and our services are accessible to everyone. This is a huge project that we have been excited about for a few years now and is a requirement to meet our national re-accreditation standards in 2020. We are very thankful that we were finally able to make it happen and are just imagining how wonderful it is going to look once it is complete! The crew has been hard at work and we can't wait to see the finished project soon. Once the ramp is complete our front and side lawn will be getting a makeover as well! Stay tuned to see our finished ramp and our beautiful new yard!