Georgia Center for Children and the Fulton County Child Advocacy Center Unite to Combat Sexual Child Abuse

9/11/07 Law enforcement officials, prosecutors, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Department of Family and Child Services (DFCS), medical providers and child advocates came together to announce the merger of the Georgia Center for Children and the Fulton County Child Advocacy Center.  The new organization will be called the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy. 

"This is an important day for the children of Fulton and DeKalb counties," said Bernard M. Porche, board chair of the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy.  "Today, two fine organizations, the Georgia Center for Children and the Fulton County Child Advocacy Center, that have a strong history of partnership and collaboration, have united to create an even stronger voice to benefit the children of our community." 

Child sexual abuse data shows grim statistics.  One in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before the age of 18. One in five children is solicited sexually while on the Internet.  Nearly 70 percent of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to children ages 17 and under.  An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood abuse exist in America today. 

"In these two counties alone, we're talking about 79,000 children that have been physically or sexually abused," said Porche.  "Given the need, we felt we would be a stronger force united as a single organization instead of two separate groups." 

The new organization plans to create two co-located facilities --one in Fulton County and another in DeKalb County -- where law enforcement, case managers, prosecutorial resources and forensic, medical and therapeutic services are provided in a child-friendly environment. 

J. Tom Morgan, former board chair of the Georgia Center for Children, said, "We aim to change these statistics and believe that the merger will allow us to be even more effective in helping children and families that have been impacted by sexual abuse.  We'll also continue to reach out to adults to prevent child sexual abuse in Georgia.  We have much to do and will continue to seek community support and collaboration."  

The Georgia Center for Child Advocacy will continue its statewide initiative to train one million Georgia adults in the Stewards of Children curriculum, teaching them to prevent, recognize and respond to child sexual abuse.  This training is geared toward education institutions, youth-serving organizations, faith community, parent groups and youth recreation. 

The Georgia Center for Children was founded in 1987, and the Fulton County Children's Advocacy Center was founded in 2001.  The shared commitment to serve the children of Fulton and DeKalb counties led to the merger agreement. 

The Georgia Center for Child Advocacy, a nationally-certified child advocacy center, is committed to a healthy and safe community for children.  The organization's mission is the protection, care and healing of children through the coordinated delivery of services.  In addition, the organization will continue the statewide prevention program using the Stewards of Children curriculum, educating one million adults to prevent sexual abuse. 

Assisting the organization is CACTIS, the award-winning case coordination software that will be operational statewide at the end of 2008 as a result of recent state funding.