Franklin-Williamson "CAC"

Happy Holidays 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 ways to help the CAC, things we at the CAC are thankful for, and a fundraiser update from all of our fall fundraisers. 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.

Child Advocacy Centers exist to provide each child who has suffered abuse with justice, hope and healing. Statistic show us that before they turn 18, one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused, and one in three boys and one in four girls will by physically abused. Any child can become a victim of abuse. No race, ethnicity or socioeconomic demographic is immune. Last fiscal year alone, the Franklin-Williamson Child Advocacy Center (FWCAC) provided services to 197 children and families right here in our communities. Our work is only possible with the help of people and organizations that are willing to get involved, and we thank you for your support of our mission this past year.

As 2019 comes to a close, we ask that you remember the FWCAC in the New Year and consider how you can continue to support our work in 2020. As a 501c3 organization, you might consider a tax-deductible end-of-the-year gift. Maybe you received a gift card over the holidays that you won’t use and a CAC client could use it to get a new outfit or pair of shoes. Possibly, you could budget $10 a month to provide for snacks to be used for kids at the CAC. There are countless ways that you can make a difference for the children and families who need CAC services. Every gift, big and small, helps us in our mission of supporting children and families in Franklin and Williamson counties who have been the victims of abuse.

One project that is underway at the FWCAC 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, but this project comes with a large price tag. We would love to use your end-of-the-year donation to help fund the ramp project and make the FWCAC accessible for all!

If you have any questions about ways that you can make a difference, please feel free to contact our office anytime and we would be happy to talk with you.

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.

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!

This holiday season we want to say how thankful we are for all the people who we work with throughout the year. A huge thank you to DCFS investigators and supervisors, Law Enforcement, States Attorneys and Assistant States Attorneys, Children's Medical and Mental Health Network, various mental health agencies and providers, and our Board of Directors. We are so thankful for all of you and the hard work you all do throughout the year for the families in our area. Thank you for being a part of our CAC family, you are so appreciated!

We asked each of our staff members something that they are thankful for this holiday season:

Elaina Scerena: "I am thankful for my family"

Pamela Bible: "I am thankful for my family and my dogs"

Misty Lattuada: "I am thankful for my family, food to eat, a warm place to live, and my dog"

Leah Brown: "I am thankful for my family who loves me despite my flaws, my work family who continues to fight the good fight, my good health that allows me to keep doing the work that matters, and some days, I am just thankful for a good movie that allows me to turn off my brain and get lost in a tub of buttery popcorn when the going gets tough!"

Hilary Chandler: "I am thankful for my family, friends, two dogs, the roof over my head and all of the traveling I have been able to do recently"

Email: advocate@franklinwilliamsoncac.org
Website: http://www.franklinwilliamsoncac.org
Location: 501 South 14th Street, Herrin, IL, USA
Phone: 618-942-3800

We look forward to continuing our quarterly newsletters in 2020 and are excited to see what 2020 has in store for us at the FWCAC!

We hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!