Richmond County is top in Georgia in one unenviable category.
For years, Fulton County ranked first in Georgia for sex trafficking cases; however, that’s no longer true, according to Maureen McManus, Child Enrichment Inc.’s development director.
“We have a significant issue, in Richmond County in particular, with child sex trafficking; unfortunately, over the last month or so, we are the number one county in the state of Georgia for sex trafficking,” said McManus.
Child Enrichment’s mission is to “provide a voice for children who have experienced abuse, neglect or child sex trafficking,” she said.
The organization has helped more than 25,500 children since 1978 with safe, permanent homes, counseling, forensic interviews and court advocacy. Last year, 1,066 children were served.
Between its Augusta and Thomson offices, Child Enrichment helps families from nine surrounding counties including Richmond, Columbia, Burke, McDuffie, Warren, Wilkes and Lincoln.
A weekend fundraiser will benefit the agency.
MORE: Child Enrichment breaks ground on new building
Its annual Cookin’ For Kids Oyster Roast will be from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Memorial Gardens Park behind the Columbia County Library.
With live music by The Coveralls, a raffle for an E-Z-Go golf cart, a silent auction, and a live auction which includes a trip to Tuscany and a one-carat diamond with a choice of setting, the event features steamed oysters, non-seafood entrees and sides as well as beer and wine.
Tickets are $75 and are available through the Child Enrichment website www.childenrichment.org.
Since 2019, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions has donated $75,000 to Child Enrichment Inc. and is a major sponsor of the event.
The fundraiser will help raise money for the construction of a new facility with additional interrogation rooms.
During the month of May, with a single interrogation room, McManus said the Richmond County office completed 82 forensic interviews highlighting the center’s need for more specialized interrogation and observation rooms, a training room for new volunteers and for a new medical exam room.
McManus said all interrogation rooms are built like a suite with an adjoining observation room to allow for police presence and a Georgia Division of Family and Children Services representative to monitor the process.
“All interviews are recorded to be used for court proceedings down the line with the idea being that a child only has to tell their story one time to one safe adult,” she said.
MORE: Oyster Roast Benefits Programs for Abused Children
Additional waiting and interrogation rooms are important, she said because, oftentimes, they receive suspected victims of child trafficking from the Augusta Youth Development Campus who were picked up from another charge.
“A lot of times the child has been picked up for another charge like armed robbery, that kind of thing; so, they are brought from YDC in handcuffs and shackles a lot of times, which can be really scary for kids who aren’t in that situation,” she said.
McManus said it is important for children to feel safe when in the facility to ensure “they feel safe sharing their story and know nothing bad will happen to them.” The additional rooms will also allow their facility to provide extra confidentiality and privacy for incoming families.
“Eighty percent of people who are currently incarcerated spend time in foster care, so it affects everyone, and the effects of abuse are for life,” she said.
Through offering a number of services, McManus said the facility focuses heavily on child advocacy to help victims grow past their past trauma and readjust.
“Child abuse effects every demographic, every culture, just everyone. So we are committed to being a safe haven for children in the community who need us, and we believe that it’s super important to the community to have adequate facilities and adequate services for kids who need us,” said McManus.
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com.
