This post is from a speech by foster parent, Bylle McCulley
I would like to share with you my personal experiences while receiving the services of the Children’s Advocacy Center.
10 years ago, my husband and I became foster parents here in Jackson County and we received children on an emergency placement.
Usually, our first stop was the CAC.
I was awe struck at how kind, gentle, and supportive the staff was, not only to the child, but also to me as the foster parent.
When I held a little girl’s hand while she was being examined, it required all the strength I could possible muster to say, “You can trust me. I’m not going to leave you.” Those reassurances had an impact, not only on the child, but also on me as a person.
I know from experience that putting kids back together again starts at the CAC.
We were able to adopt a special needs child from the foster care system. He came to us when he was 17 months-old and he’s now 12. During our 6-year journey, we received help first from the Children’s Advocacy Center, then Family Nurturing Center, Community Family Court, Jackson County Mental Health, and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program. I will always be grateful for the guidance and direction they provided to my family during this stressful time.
The most effective response to abuse and neglect requires a collaborative approach, which includes: teachers, first responders, law enforcement, medical, Community Family Court, attorneys, judges, CASA, elected officials, foster parents, the faith community and all the community partners who so generously come along beside us.
The process starts with the CAC to identify, investigate and provide treatment.
Please donate to the Children’s Advocacy Center now and don’t put it off. We either pay now or we pay more later. It will cost more later in mental health issues, chronic diseases and possible even the involvement of the criminal justice system. Join us. We we are always looking for community partners to plant a seed of healing for the abused children and teens of our community.
By Tammi Pitzen, Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County — from her speech at our October, 2017 Cherish a Child Luncheon
A wise man looked at the response in place in Jackson County for victims of child abuse and thought there was opportunity to improve this response.
That wise man was Mark Huddleston, or as we like to refer to him, Our Founding Father.
I am so thankful for his vision. His vision became the Jackson County Child Abuse Task Force.
In March 1991 the Children’s Advocacy Center was opened. The Center had two employees. The only statistic that we kept was that 229 cases were staffed by the multi-disciplinary team. In 1991 our budget was $56,000. The next year the budget increased slightly and we staffed 236 cases and there were 167 interviews completed.
In the 1993-94 fiscal year, the state of Oregon decided to get serious about how it handled child abuse cases and passed HB 5061. This bill established the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Intervention program and provided MDT’s across the state with funding. This funding has continued and provides sustainability to services provided in our community to victims of child abuse.
That same year, the CAC of Jackson County began offering therapy on-site under a contract. In 1994 the CAC of Jackson County became one of the very first centers in the country to become an accredited member of the National Children’s Alliance. We also purchased the building that we still reside in at 816 W. Tenth Street.
Along the way we added services. We increased the number of children served. We increased the budget. Growing. Stretching. To serve the abused children in our community.
In 1997 we began doing medical exams utilizing local pediatricians. The next year we added a nurse and an interviewer to staff and hired the first office manager. At that time the position was called an administrative secretary. Some people may not know this, but that first office manager was Laura Horton, who is now our Board President.
In 1999 we entered into our first partnership with Asante Health System. They provided a full time pediatrician to provide medical evaluations to abused children.
In the years to come, we added on to our space. We even expanded across the parking lot.
Today the CAC has 15 employees. We have three full time therapists. We have two medical providers and, for the first time in a long time, our medical clinic is providing services for 40 hours a week. We have one and a half forensic interviewers. One of them is bilingual. Jennifer is the first bilingual forensic interviewer on the Jackson County MDT.
We have a Family Support Team that provides support and advocacy services to abused children and their non-offending caregivers in Jackson County. There are 5 members of this team. Four employed by the CAC, and one is part of a special project with Community Works.
We have an outreach team made up of a development director, an outreach coordinator and two contractors working on prevention and community education.
We have an executive director and an office manager.
We have a board made up of 18 extraordinary community members and an advisory council made up of ten very wise advisors.
Stay tuned. We need to grow a little more to meet the increasing needs of the abused children we serve.
Our theme this year is “Planting a Seed”. I decided to do some research using my top advisor, Google. Here is what I learned:
Plants cannot grow strong without proper care.
Plants can’t take care of themselves.
Some plants are thorny and seem to lash out at anyone who comes near, but these same plants grow into some of the prettiest, sturdiest, and sweetest smelling flowers.
Plants cannot find their own water or their own light or their own environment in which to grow.
If you want tulips in the spring, you have to get your hands dirty in the fall.
Sometimes you need to clear weeds away so that the plant can thrive.
With those concepts in mind, let’s think about abused children and how this theme might fit:
A child cannot grow strong without proper care.
A child can’t take care of themselves without some help.
Sometimes the child who needs the most love asks for it in the most unlovable ways…but just like that thorny plant…if we nurture and care for that child and give that child love, he can grow into this amazing functioning adult.
Sometimes you need to clear the hurts away so a child can thrive.
In last year we served 695 children and 414 non-offending caregivers with nearly 5,000 services. Amazing. 1,109 seeds planted.
We are here because of support from the community. We are here because there are people who want to help abused children recover from their trauma.
I will be honest. It has been a hard month for children in Jackson County. There are many seeds that need to be sowed. Many hurts that need to be cleared away.
I am so thankful that our staff and our MDT–our partners here–are able to show incredible strength and love for the tender souls of the children suffering from trauma from abuse.
Child Abuse happens. It happens here. It happens way too frequently. When I am still…when it is quiet…and I am alone with my thoughts…I am thankful, not discouraged. I am thankful that I live my life in a community where children are priority.
I am thankful that I live my life surrounded by “farmers” planting seeds of hope for the future.
Child Abuse is a community problem and requires a community response.
My promise to you—as a community partner, a MDT member, a staff member, a CAC volunteer— is that every single day I will meet you in the garden. Ready to get my hands dirty. Ready to clear away the hurts.
If you would like to make a donation to Cherish a Child and support the CAC’s work of healing and preventing child abuse, please make a donation of any amount below.
When did you start volunteering at the Children’s Advocacy Center?
I started volunteering at the Children’s Advocacy Center on September 20, 2017.
How did you become familiar with the Center, how did you find out?
I became familiar with the Center through two sources: A list of possible internship facilities through the SOU website, as well as a recommendation from DHS.
What do you do at the Center?
I spend my volunteer time at the Center in the Medical and Therapy departments. There, I help with any administration tasks that need done, along with keeping the Center clean, stocked, and friendly for children. I also, when the occasion calls for it, help watch the children while their guardians are in a therapy session. I would say my main task, though, is to job shadow and see the everyday workings of the Center.
Why do you volunteer?
Along with volunteering for my SOU Capstone Project, I volunteer to bring experience and enrichment to my own life, as well as to be a helping hand within the community by creating a safe and friendly environment for abused children when they need it most.
What is your favorite part of volunteering?
My favorite part of volunteering, would be general job shadowing and learning the ins-and-outs of the Center, as well as being able to interact with the children we are helping.
What is the passion you have for volunteering at the center?
My passion I have for volunteering at the Center, is to be able to put my education and personal experiences about child abuse and mental health, into action. Being able to help others, not only through this volunteer experience, but also my other work with Crisis Text Line, is where I feel I belong in this world and can be the most useful to my community.
What are your thoughts about the Center, the work we do here and how it relates to you and your volunteering?
The Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County is an environment where children (and their non-offending guardians) who are already going through what is typically a traumatic experience, can feel safe and comfortable. Having a safe place, I think, is one of the most important things for a child to have. The work the Center does relates to me and my volunteering by showing me what it takes, not just the ins-and-outs of the Center and the legality and procedures, but also through support and compassion, to truly ‘be there’ for the abused children and their families of our community.
There is always room for more volunteers! Please let us know if you have a place in your heart to help children and their families. We can set up a time to for a Center tour and talk about how you might want to help the abused children and their families we serve.
Contact Ginny Sagal at vsagal@cacjc.org or call her at 541-282-5474 EXT 1013
By Leah Howell, Training Coordinator, The Protect Our Children Project of The Children’s Adv0cacy Center of Jackson County
One aspect of effective child sexual abuse prevention is creating a relationship with your child or other children in your care that encourages openness about their body boundaries.
Adults should always support a child in deciding for themselves when and how they choose to show physical affection. Encouraging this autonomy establishes that the child is in control of the decisions that concern their bodies. If a child feels uncomfortable or uneasy or resistant to physical affection, they should be encouraged to verbalize and act on it without opposition from parents or other adults.
While taking the Stewards of Children training, participants are asked to think about how they would start a conversation with their child about establishing their body boundaries. This is a very important ongoing discussion to have with your child.
Many times this is an intimidating idea for parents who may not be comfortable knowing what to say, or how to start this conversation with their children. There are a number of age appropriate books and stories that will aid a parent in starting the conversation, and to help a child to understand. This blog summarizes a number of these helpful books: https://rhythmsofplay.com/books-that-help-kids-develop-healthy-personal-boundaries/
When did you start volunteering at the Children’s Advocacy Center?
I started volunteering at the Children’s Advocacy Center in July of 2017.
How did you become familiar with the Center? How did you find out?
I found out about the Center initially online when I was searching for organizations that I wanted to volunteer for that helped children who have been affected by negative adverse events in their lives. Later I learned more about the specific services that the Center provides children from the CAC Communication and Outreach Coordinator, Ginny Sagal.
What do you do at the Center?
At the Center I volunteer in the Medical building where I do a variety of different helpful tasks. Of those tasks, my favorites are playing with the children while they are waiting to go back for their appointments, helping Eliza make new patient folders, and making appointment reminder calls.
Why do you volunteer?
I volunteer at CAC, because I really value their mission to help children by providing them a safe place to receive help and positive experiences to carry with them in their lives. I wanted to be a part of the impact this Center has on these children.
What is your favorite part of volunteering?
My favorite part of volunteering is being able to play and read books to the children who come into the Center.
What is the passion you have for volunteering at the Center?
My passion for volunteering at the Center stems from my educational background and my love for children. At the end of June 2018, I will graduate from SOU with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Criminal Justice. The Children’s Advocacy Center is the perfect place for me to be able to help children and make a difference in a wonderful and supportive environment.
Can you give us a quote on your thoughts about the Center, the work we do here and how it relates to you and you’re volunteering?
The Children’s Advocacy Center has created a unique safe place for children to be able to heal from negative experiences and become children again. This is a hard field to be in, but each employee has a passion for this type of work, which is evident by the way they interact with the children, families, and volunteers that come through their doors each day. I really enjoy being able to be a part of this organization and the impact that it has on these children. I look forward to my volunteer shift each week.
There is always room for more volunteers. Please let us know if you have a place in your heart to help children and their families. We can set up a time to for a Center tour and talk about how you might want to help the abused children and their families we serve.
Contact Ginny Sagal at vsagal@cacjc.org or call her at 541-282-5474 EXT 1013
By Theresa Hart. Development Director for The Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County
Each year the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County hosts a fundraising luncheon. During these luncheons, guests will receive an update from Tammi Pitzen, CAC Executive Director, about what’s happened at the CAC in the last year.
They will also hear the story of a survivor and how each person can help the children we serve.
On October 12th from 12 noon – 1 pm, the CAC will host its 11th Annual Cherish a Child Luncheon at Inn at the Commons. It is our second largest fundraising event.
I love the luncheon as it provides a look into what we do and inspires people to make a difference in a child’s life. The event is only one hour and lunch is provided. We ask attendees to give what will satisfy their hearts. Attendees may give a one-time gift or a sustaining gift over the next 12 months.
The theme of this year’s fundraising luncheon is Planting a Seed.
Attendees will learn how the work we do is planting seeds of healing in the lives of abused children and their families. They will learn about our community partners who are planting seeds of healing and how they too can plant seeds of healing in our community.
By giving to the CAC, you are planting seeds of healing in a child’s life.
I’m excited to share that this year’s survivor story will focus on how the seeds of healing were planted in the heart of the mother of an abused child thirty years ago. It is a truly inspiring story that you won’t want to miss.
What we know is that when an intervention is timely, a child can heal from the abuse and grow up to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. We also know that the families of these victims also have needs. When those families are helped, they will provide a healthy and safe environment for their child to heal.
Our newly formed Family Support Team provides advocacy and services to the families of victims. Sometimes when a child comes to our Intake Center, their only possessions are the clothes on their backs. That child’s parent may have had to leave their home, and they may have no place to go.
Because of the generosity of donors, there is a clothes closet where our Family Support Team may pull out an outfit or two for that child. We work with community partners like ACCESS, where there is food available for the family. If they need additional clothing or other items to set up their new home, we will give them a Goodwill Industries voucher to purchase items from one of their stores. We work with other agencies to help these families.
We are truly grateful for the community partners doing great work to help these families.
The CAC is a place where children can come to tell the story of their abuse in a loving environment that feels like a home. If they have been injured, they will receive a medical evaluation by a specially trained medical provider. These head-to-toe evaluations can take two hours or more to perform. During that time, evidence is collected and other medical needs are assessed. Our medical providers give referrals so those additional needs may be addressed. Some of these children have not seen a doctor since they were born. They also provide assurance to these children that their bodies will heal. These children may also receive a therapy assessment to determine their needs.
We offer short- and long-term therapy as well as specialized therapy groups for the victims. There is also a Parent Group where the non-offending parent may learn how to care for a child that has been through trauma. The CAC is a place of healing. Your gift will plant seeds of healing and recovery in an abused child’s life. Your gift will help those families to provide a safe and healthy environment for their child to heal.
Your gift also plants seeds of healing in our community. We partner with The Ford Family Foundation to provide PROTECT OUR CHILDREN child sexual abuse prevention training where adults learn to identify the signs of abuse and are given tools to intervene and to prevent child abuse from happening. During the last two years, we have trained 1100 people Jackson County. We offer monthly trainings at the Medford Library as well as provide trainings at schools, agencies, churches and organizations that work with children. I would encourage anyone who has or works with children or youth to take this training.
We work closely with community partners who specialize in child abuse. We assist them in planting seeds of healing in the community. We work closely with the Department of Human Services-Child Protection Division (DHS), law enforcement, CASA, Family Nurturing Center, Community Works, the District Attorney’s Office and many more to help in the identification, intervention, prevention, and prosecution of child abuse cases in Jackson County.
Register for the luncheon and make a gift to the Children’s Advocacy Center. While we do not charge for the luncheon, you will be asked to give a donation of either a one time or sustaining gift to help abused children. Registration is required.
Thank you for all you do to plant seeds of healing in the life of children. We are grateful for your ongoing support of abused children in our community. We hope that you will join us at the Cherish a Child Luncheon on October 12th.
By Tammi Pitzen, Executive Director of The Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County
Last month Taylor Swift was awarded one dollar in a law suit against D.J. David Mueller.
If you do not know the story, here is the short version. A few years ago, Taylor Swift was in Denver at a Meet ‘N Greet and David Mueller grabbed her bare butt under her skirt. Her mother later reported it to his employers and they fired him. He then sued for defamation and lost. Taylor Swift counter sued him for sexual assault for 1 dollar and won.
I will be honest that I was never a big fan of Taylor Swift. I liked “Shake It Off” as much as the next guy I guess. It was a catchy tune. If you would have asked me a month ago if I thought she was a good role model for our daughters, I probably would have said, “no”. You can google her and a long string of articles involving boyfriend drama come up.
On August 15, 2017 that changed. I would tell you now that I am thankful for her courage. I am thankful she made a statement when she could have made it about money.
I would even go so far as to say that parents should use this “incident” as a teaching moment for our sons as well as our daughters.
She went to trial when she could have remained silent. This young lady did not back down when the defense attorney tried to place blame on her. She stood proudly and stood firm. She CALLED the OFFENDER out! She clearly and firmly stated, “I’m not going to allow you or your client to say I am to blame.” In my head, this statement is followed by the court room spectators doing the wave!
She received a dollar as her judgement. This move has silenced the would-be naysayers who would claim this was about money. It was about more than money. It was about sending a message.
I think Taylor Swift has changed the conversation and here are the reasons why I think so…
1) By stepping out of the shadows, she has literally just shown the world that you can be a victim of sexual assault, tell your story and be believed. This move will send a message to young teenage girls struggling…to full grown adult women…to the famous and the never known…that there is hope and safety available out there. Heck! Let’s hope the message crosses the gender line and brings hope to all people who have suffered abuse.
2) I do not know at what point it became accepted that men had the right to grope a woman. Somehow the message has been sent that if you are a pretty young girl with a great body, you are asking for someone to touch you and that if they do, it is okay. You should not be so fit or so pretty. Taylor Swift has shown that you can be pretty. You can be successful. AND has boldly reminded the world that it is not okay to grab someone who does not want to be grabbed. Anywhere. Much less on their bare bottom. Boys will be boys is no longer tolerated.
3) You can be 27 and change the world. Your voice matters. You can change the conversation.
4) No matter how much she was pressured, led, or blamed…she held firm and redirected the responsibility back on the offender.
5) The conversation changed when it was not about money. I guess I don’t have a problem if it had been about money. If you are abused, no amount of money is going to change that it happened, but it can give you the resources to recover. But by taking money out of the equation, those who always go there…have no reason to. When I say “go there”…you know what I am talking about…she is only trying to make a buck. She is only trying to ruin his life, his career. She is only trying to bankrupt the poor guy.
He ruined his life and career by making poor choices. She did not bankrupt him. She did not profit in any way from this except to gain an almost 50-year-old woman living in Medford Oregon as a fan.
Diode Laser Concepts volunteers assemble our new train table
By Tammi Pitzen, Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County
Many of you have heard me say that child abuse is a community problem that deserves a community response. I actually say and write that frequently. It did not originate with me, and I actually can’t tell you who said it first. What I can say is that it resonates with me.
I can also say that I see my community step up and be a part of the response every single day.
Every time, it makes me proud of the community I live in and every time, it makes me feel humbled and in awe of the generosity of this community. Every time, it makes me feel a little emotional that so many people care about the outcomes of the children we serve at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County.
Some of you right now are asking yourself, “What is a community response?”
A community response is a group of runners who donated proceeds from the Siskiyou Outback (or as it is known by its more irreverent name ‘the SOB’) to provide safety to staff and to the children and families we serve in the form of an updated security system. This is so needed and is one of those things people may not think about.
Erin, Rob, John and Susan—those who run the race—came for a tour and decided that the gift of safety and security was one that the children we serve and the staff who serves them deserve.
I went out to Mt. Ashland to watch some of the day’s activities and was moved by the runners who were cheering each runner who crossed the finish line. It made me wish that each child who visits the Center for services could see a finish line…and made me hope that they felt that same level of support when they crossed the threshold of the door of the Center. I was moved again when I hugged each of those people who made this gift possible.
This is a big deal. This is a community response. This is one way to make kids who have had safety ripped from their hands feel safe again.
Thank you is inadequate. But it is all I have. That and my undying gratitude that they recognize the work we do and value the service we provide. Not only do they value the service, but value those giving and receiving the service.
A community response is a young man named Milan who coordinates and facilitates a one-day soccer camp to benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center during the heat of early July. The soccer camp is free with a request of a donation to help the Center. This is an amazing camp that children from our community, both those who receive services from our agency and those from the general public, come together to learn social skills, to learn team building, to learn to play soccer, and to really just have fun. This all came about because a young man came on a tour and wanted to give something. His passion is soccer. He wanted to give his passion to the children of the Rogue Valley and to our agency in hopes of providing healing to the children who pass through our doors in need of compassion, safety, and healing.
A community response is Jeff Pevar, Inger Jorgensen and LOVEBITE playing a benefit concert at Grizzly Peak Winery to raise awareness about child abuse in our community and to raise money to help solve the problem. It was amazing to hear these talented musicians giving us their gift in an effort to make it possible to dream of a place where no child will ever feel unwanted, devalued, and minimized. A place where no child will suffer at the hands of another…where no child will bear the marks of abuse…where no child wears the hidden scars left by the trauma of abuse. A community response is a dance floor filled with people who came to support the cause and enjoy an evening listening to some really good music.
A community response is Dagoba Chocolate picking the Children’s Advocacy Center to do a service project to insure that children who need clothes in a time of crisis will have complete outfits put together with just them in mind.
A community response is Diode Laser Concepts who sends a small army once a month to take care of all of our “honey do’s”…which can be anything from cleaning out our gutters, getting spider webs off one of our buildings or putting together a new train table.
A community response is group of professionals from Banner Bank who painted offices as part of United Way’s Day of Caring.
A community response is a volunteer Board of Directors who shows up every month for meetings, who share their good fortune to support the programs we offer, who share their gifts with our agency…who provide guidance to an Executive Director whenever it is needed.
A community response is a volunteer Advisory Council who provides advice, connections, and support, so the children of our community have access to healing services.
I am humbled over and over again by the generosity of those who give their gifts to support the abused children who receive healing and recovery services from the Children’s Advocacy Center.
The ones written about in this blog are only the most recent. With each word typed, I am reminded of others who have given of themselves to help support our children. Perhaps they will be the inspiration for another blog.
Every gift counts. Every gift is valued. Every gift is precious. Every gift provides healing.
Today as I sit in my office working on grants, working on paying the bills, working on all the less glamorous things that are connected to running a nonprofit agency, I am so thankful.
I am thankful that I am surrounded by people in my community who see the unseen and rise to the challenge in a move to end child abuse. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to meet Rob, Susan, Erin, John, Milan, Jeff, Inger, Paul, Jacob, and Matthew.
I am thankful that I live in a place that when someone says, “Child abuse is a community problem that deserves a community response”…that the community responds.
By Ginny Sagal, Communication & Outreach Coordinator for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County
It’s 9am and the Children’s Advocacy Center is open. Clients are coming in for a therapy session, therapy assessment, medical service, or forensic interview.
They are greeted by a CAC employee and many times by a volunteer.
This is a volunteer who has given their time and heart to help out at the Center. The volunteers who help out at the Children’s Advocacy Center are given a variety of tasks to do that are catered to their interest, skillset, and our client’s needs.
Many come to the Center to be with the children.
They play games, read stories, or just hang with them. Having kind and caring volunteers help out with the children makes the waiting sometimes not so scary. They also comfort the parents, who are sometimes just as scared and confused as the kids.
We have volunteers that also help with filing and keeping our closet, where we store extra clothing for our clients, organized. Some volunteers love to get involved in our once a year Winter Gala fundraiser that requires many hours of their time.
Once a week in the evening, we have a special parent therapy group that is totally run by the volunteers and facilitated by one of our therapists. The volunteers make dinner for the kids and parents. While the parents are in the group session with the therapist, the volunteers play games and make crafts with the kids. When the session is done, these dedicated volunteers stay to help clean up.
Our volunteers come from all walks of life.
We have some that are students who are working on college credits that pertain to social service and criminal justice work. There are companies that come to the Center as a team to help us out on a project. Many are retirees that have chosen our Center to help out in the next phase of their lives.
The Children’s Advocacy Center has a child sexual abuse prevention training that is done by volunteers. This program is called the “Protect our Children, Darkness to Light, Stewards of Children” training.
Being a volunteer at the Children’s Advocacy Center is like being part of a big family. Like most families, some days are easier than others, but the devotion and love that our volunteers give to our Center and our clients makes every day a special one.
There is always room for more volunteers. Please let us know if you have a place in your heart to help children and their families. We can set up a time to for tour and talk about how they want to help the abused children and their families at the Center. Contact Ginny Sagal at vsagal@cacjc.org or call her at 541 282 5474.
By Theresa Hart, Development Director for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County
In March, we created three stories of children who have received services in our Medical Department for our Caring for Kids Campaign. These stories were based on real life experiences of children who had received services in our Medical Department. The details of their experiences were altered to protect their identities.
“Jayden’s” story touched me very deeply.
“Jayden” suffered sexual abuse by her mother’s boyfriend. She and her mother were brought to the Children’s Advocacy Center after her mother found her 13-year-old daughter inconsolable upon her return home.
After disclosing the abuse at the Center, Jayden was brought to our Medical Department where she received a head to toe evaluation. Additionally, our in-house pediatrician administered a test for sexually transmitted infections and a pregnancy test. When she left the Center that day, Jayden carried with her a quilt and the assurance that she was healthy and that her body would be okay. Jayden is receiving therapy at the Center and her mother is in treatment for substance abuse.
Jayden was fortunate to have come to the Children’s Advocacy Center where she could receive our specialized medical services, tell the story of her abuse and receive therapy in one child-focused center.
There are many children who have experienced abuse and neglect in the Rogue Valley. The CAC is the only place of its kind In Jackson County. Last year, Jayden was the recipient of one of the more than 200 medical services performed by our Medical Department.
Jayden suffered the kind of abuse we don’t like to talk about.
But here’s the thing, child abuse is a community problem, and it requires a community response. CAC’s partners were involved throughout her story, from law enforcement, DHS, community members, businesses, and other local organizations. The quilt Jayden took home was made by a local church group.
Community members and businesses can partner with us during the Caring for Kids Campaign to support our Medical Department services. These donations go to pay medical staff salaries, equipment, and supplies.
We are recruiting a nurse practitioner to perform additional medical evaluations and services to extend our Medical Department hours to 40 per week. Now more than ever we need community partnerships and support to help us continue our work with abused children.
There’s still time to partner with us during the Caring for Kids campaign. The deadline to make a donation is June 30. To make a difference in a life of other child victims, send your donation to 816 W. 10th Street, Medford, OR 97501.
