Children's Advocacy Center of Highlands Community Services

Last night at the Council meeting, the City proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Thank you to Bristol Social Services, the Child Advocacy Center, and Highlands Community Services for all they do for our youngest citizens! 💙

Niswonger Children's Hospital thank you for the wonderful day of learning and networking! Our MDT partners enjoyed every minute!

This is what a dream team looks like! (Missing a few who got away before the picture was taken). Heroes on the front line, heroes to children. Working each day to protect children in our community and never losing sight of the mission!

This is a wonderful book!

Hey FB Friends—I have some copies of “Strawberry Heaven” available for $10, plus $5 shipping ($2 off Amazon price). All proceeds go to the Children’s Advocacy Center in Bristol. Message me if interested.

Virginia’s Children’s Advocacy Centers and other victim services organizations need your voice. In the face of deep and potentially devestating federal funding cuts, we are asking our Virginia legislature to “Put Victims First”. This video explains the dilemma

Put Victims First This is "Put Victims First" by bookend creative on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

We are facing a victim services crisis! The Children's Advocacy Center of Highlands Community Services and other victim services agencies in Virginia are slated for additional deep funding cuts in July 2024.

Children in SW Virginia are disproportionately affected by these cuts. With only 2% of Virginia’s child population, the localities served by the region’s 3 CACs posted 12% of all founded abuse and neglect cases in the Commonwealth in FY 2023.

Please speak up on behalf of our region’s most vulnerable children. The link in the graphic below provides a simple way to tell our legislators that Southwest Virginia’s children should not be left behind!

Virginia's victim services providers are facing a financial cliff. In the past 5 years alone, Virginia‘s victim service agencies have suffered a 47.5% overall cut to Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Funding. VOCA funding cuts are expected to continue, leaving more Virginia victims without the services they need to recover from child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence. We need your help to ask the VA General Assembly to fill the gap in funding so we can continue to serve the most vulnerable among us. Easily contact your legislator by clicking this link to help: https://actionalliance.salsalabs.org/putvictimsfirstva/index.html

Many thanks to our local, state and federal law enforcement partners! Our children and our communities are safer because of you!

Merry Christmas from Alpha the facility dog at Children's Advocacy Center of Highlands Community Services !

Thank you to the W.O.W. ladies group at Abingdon United Methodist Church for the thoughtful “ Family Game Night” gift bags provided to our children and families! Christmas break will be even more fun, thanks to your generosity and caring!

Thank you to our friends at Sinking Springs United Methodist Church!

This Advent Season, SSPC is proud to support the work of the Children's Advocacy Center of Highlands Community Services.
When children are asked to testify against their abusers in court, the CAC supports them by providing fun "Courtroom Bags." A fidget toy or coloring book may seem like a small thing, but it can help a child feel calm during a very difficult moment. Click the link below for the CAC wishlist, then bring your items to SSPC during the month of December. https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.cloversites.com/5a/5a1a2c35-88ee-415f-9ab2-5792728fb846/documents/Activity_Bags_For_Kids_Going_to_Court.pdf

We are so pleased to partner with these outstanding students. Thank you for your generosity and enthusiasm!

➡ We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the VDOT Abingdon Residency Office for their generous donation to the CAC of HCS. Your kindness and financial support are deeply valued and will have a significant impact on improving the lives of children in Washington and Smyth Counties.

‼ WE'RE HIRING ‼

🎉🎉 is NOW HIRING for the position of Victim Support Navigator

➡ This position will allow you to provide support, resources, and guidance to child victims and their families as you assist them in navigating the complex maze of interactions with courts, treatment, and investigative services. Directed by a trauma-informed approach this position invites you work alongside a multi-disciplinary team of partners to make a meaningful difference for those we serve.

✔Check out our job listings in the link below and apply today!

➡️ https://bit.ly/35tBJ0C

Alpha, the CAC’s facility dog, wishes Happy Fall to all his “Fur-iends!”

What a beautiful day it has been today at Preston’s Grove!

If you see this handsome fella today, be sure to wish him a Happy 6th Birthday!

Alpha has been comforting children and families for 3 years at the CAC. We can’t remember what it was like without him!!

At the heart of every CAC is a strong and dedicated Multidisciplinary Team. We are so lucky to have 3 MDTs of talented, innovative, and passionate members who make child protection and safety their highest priority.

Today and every day, they are

💙 April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month 💙

Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of working together to strengthen families to prevent child abuse and neglect.

To learn more about how to spot child abuse visit the National Children's Advocacy Center.

➡ https://bit.ly/3Kl8iNK

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What a great day! CAC staff hosted our wonderful coworkers from HCSOutpatient Services for a Taco Tuesday lunch yesterday.

It was extra-special having them at CAC during Child Abuse Prevention Month.

We all work towards the same common goal of making our community a safe and healthy place to live and grow, and helping children, adults, and families heal and thrive!

During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we’d like to take a moment to thank all of our first responders in the area that work tirelessly to help protect our children. You are true and we greatly appreciate and honor you!

➡ Wishing you all a Happy Easter, Alpha had a blast hunting easter eggs.

Join us on Thurs. April 13th at 4 PM EST for our latest Ask The Expert " How to Talk About Child Abuse & Neglect." In this webinar, you will hear from Michelle Fingerman, Larel Jacobs, and Dr. Laura Schwab-Reese about their work creating evidence-based conversation strategies.

Register: https://bit.ly/3ZMPYnT

Thank you Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin for recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month 2023 in a proclamation. Each April, we look to the root causes of abuse and neglect and renew our focus on awareness and knowledge of these issues, so that children can be protected and families strengthened throughout the year. Read the Governor's Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation here: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/proclamations/proclamation-list/child-abuse-prevention-month-1.html

The would like to thank the Smyth County Board of Supervisors for being and declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Smyth supervisors: Child abuse prevention is a community responsibility In 2022, more than 7,000 Virginia children were abused and neglected. Of those cases, nearly 140 took place in Smyth County.