19 Days of Activism

The Child Advocacy Center invites the community to join them in paying tribute to child abuse victims and survivors this Wednesday, November 15th at 12:45 p.m. The event will be held at the center, located at 1040 Samsonite Blvd.

This is a somber time to remember those currently struggling to overcome the challenges faced as a victim and honor the survivors of child physical and child sexual abuse. The event is a part of the Women's World Summit Foundation International 19 Days of Activism for the Prevention of Violence toward Children and Youth.

Members of the Child Protective Investigation Team will speak about the current partnerships in place that make Rutherford County a safe community for children. Speakers include: District Attorney General Jennings Jones, Shannon Romans of the Department of Children's Services, Smyrna Police Chief Kevin Arnold, and Child Advocacy Center Director Sharon De Boer.

Following the speakers, a moment of silence will be held while the symbol of child welfare, a flag honoring victims, will be raised and flown for the remainder of the day.

For more information about this event or child sexual abuse prevention training, contact Keylon Holloway, Child Advocacy Center Community Education Coordinator, at 615-867-9000 or kholloway@cacrutherford.org.

Watch for more information from organizations in our community who provide critically needed services for child abuse victims as 19 Days of Activism concludes on April 19.

For more information on the 19 Days of Activism visit the Women's World Summit Foundation website at http://19days.woman.ch/index.php/en/

WHO: Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford County

WHAT: Flag-raising to remember victims of child abuse. Speakers from the Child Protective Investigative Team will begin the event, followed by the raising of the flag.

WHEN: 12:45 PM Wednesday, November 15th

WHERE: 1040 Samsonite Blvd. Murfreesboro, TN 37127

Smyrna Police Join CAC

Smyrna Police Chief Kevin Arnold released a statement today in partnership with the Child Advocacy Center's ongoing 19 Days of Activism campaign. Arnold gives current statistics regarding how many reported cases Smyrna Police has responded to over the past two years.

Chief Kevin Arnold stated."From January 1, 2017 until October 31, 2017 the Smyrna Police Department has responded to 155 reported child abuses within the Town limits of Smyrna. During this same time period in 2016 the Smyrna Police Department responded to 148 times to reported child abuse cases. The Police Department takes very seriously the health and well-being of every child in Smyrna. That is why we have specially trained detectives such as Detective Toni Harris and Detective James Scott who are assigned to our Special Victims Unit. They are responsible for investigating all crimes involving children and do follow up investigations on domestic violence. They work daily with our partners at the Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford County, the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, and the Rutherford County District Attorney to make sure children can grow in safe environments and perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted."

The mission statement of the Smyrna Police Department states "To maintain a partnership with the community that will provide a safe and secure environment in which we all can live and our children can flourish." This mission statement was created by Chief Michael Beach almost 20 years ago and the Police Department continues to promote that philosophy to all of our officers.

Becoming aware of this issue in Rutherford and Cannon Counties is the first step towards creating a better community. The Child Advocacy Center provides free child abuse prevention trainings in the Rutherford and Cannon County communities. Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children training materials provide participants the knowledge of how to respond if a child discloses abuse. Contact Keylon Holloway with the Child Advocacy Center, at 615-867-9000 to schedule free child abuse prevention training. For more information on the 19 Days of Activism visit the Women's World Summit Foundation website at http://19days.woman.ch/index.php/en/