The organization devoted to help children who have been abused, neglected and trafficked is ready for a larger campus.
Employees and supporters gathered April 20 at the location at 2300 Walden Drive to celebrate the groundbreaking of a more than 16,000 sq. ft. building.
Standing before a field of 1,066 pinwheels, each one representing a child served by Child Enrichment in 2021, keynote speaker Judge Amanada Heath said this is just a fraction of the 25,000 children helped since it opened in 1978.
“There are two sides to this house. We have the child Advocacy Center, which does the forensic interviews for children that have been sexually abused, physically abused,” she said. “And then we also have the court appointed special advocate program. That is where our volunteers, everyday people like you and me, hear the call, go and get trained in becoming a voice, an advocate for one child or a family group that’s going through the system.”
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She said, in addition to helping the children, Child Enrichment also helps the non-offending family members and adult caregivers learn how to talk with a child that has been traumatized, how to handle them with care so the child can one day become happy, healthy and whole.
The organization serves families in nine counties in the Augusta, Columbia and Toombs Judicial Circuits.
District attorney Jared Williams of the Augusta circuit said the center is important because far too many children need its services.
“I wish that we lived in a community where this type of facility wasn’t needed but it desperately is. And the work that they do is so instrumental,” he said, adding, “The only way that we can effectively prosecute cases against people who hurt children is this organization doing their forensic interviews. These advocates helping young people and families and the therapists treating the trauma that these kids experience is just incredibly important. It can’t be overstated.”
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District Attorney Bobby Christine of the Columbia circuit agreed the center is important for helping the most vulnerable, the children, and their families. But he added it is an asset for his office and law enforcement.
“They empower law enforcement to get after the law breakers. What we know is that those who will victimize children will victimize anyone,” he said. “So, if we can not only pursue them to the ends of justice, but we also prevent future crime. This organization, both through volunteered positions, and paid positions impact what I do as a prosecutor.”
The organization’s website said the larger facility will allow them to see more clients in a shorter time frame, decrease wait times for forensic interviews, allow on-site medical exams, and train enough CASA volunteers to provide an advocate for every child in foster care in our community. It will add a second forensic interview suite, a medical exam room, additional therapy offices and a CASA Training and Prevention Center.
Child Enrichment is still raising funds for the new building. It has just over $4.1 million of the $6.5 million for the project.
More information is available at: https://www.childenrichment.org/
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
