Child Abuse Council of Muskegon County
At United Way of the Lakeshore, we help fund 3 different programs at the Child Abuse Council of Muskegon County. These programs are the Children’s Advocacy Center, the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, and the Prevention through Education program.
Currently, the Child Abuse Council of Muskegon County serves 21,000 children. Their mission is to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect through education, child advocacy, and community collaboration.
Claudia Fairbanks-Kerr – Children’s Advocacy Center:
The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is a model that supports a compassionate, coordinated community response to allegations of sexual or physical abuse. Services they
provide are:
- Forensic Interviews for Suspected Child Sexual Abuse Victims
- Child Sexual Abuse Medical Examinations
- Child Sexual and Severe Physical Abuse Case Reviews
- Non-Offending Parent Support Group/Therapy
- Therapy for Child Victims
- Court Preparation & Support
- Child Sexual Abuse Prevention & Safety Education
For more information about these programs, click here!
Children’s Advocacy Center Testimonial:
Some details have been left out or changed to protect the privacy of this family.
Researchers state that children who are sexually abused are usually abused by a family member or someone who has a close relationship with the family. A family who experienced this type of devastation brought their son to the CAC for a forensic interview at the request of law enforcement and Children's Protective Services. Their son disclosed that he had been sexually abused by his older brother and two of his cousins when he was younger. It was determined that the boy should have a medical examination by sexual abuse expert physician at the Advocacy Center. The medical examination was completed. The boy and his mother participated in counseling services with the CAC. The prosecutor's office notified the family that they were moving forward to prosecute the brother & cousins for their crime against the boy. The boy shared with his counselor at the CAC that he did not want to go to court but he bravely prepared for the big day. Tension filled the courtroom as family members supporting the sexual abuse victim were confronted by family members supporting the alleged perpetrators. The boy bravely took the witness stand accompanied by the court therapy dog and his counselor from the Children's Advocacy Center. Testimony continued throughout the day from family members supporting and not supporting the boy. The prosecutor and the counselor consoled the family that the boys were brave and did the right thing in telling the truth. The family continued to come to the Advocacy Center for counseling to continue the healing that was needed to recover from the sexual abuse trauma and the loss of relationships with their family members.
Grief and loss accompany sexual abuse trauma. This family reported that they will be stronger as a family and as individuals for doing the right thing by telling their story; and not just surviving sexual abuse but building a foundation for a successful future through counseling and receiving the support they need for their family.
Remember to join the Child Abuse Council for their upcoming events:
July 17th - July 21st Rebel Road!
Join us for our largest fundraiser of the Year. Rebel Road was "built by community" in order to show support for Downtown Muskegon. Consisting of breweries, restaurants, bars, a performance arts center, an arena, small shops, a gallery, hotels and other businesses, Downtown Muskegon is the place to be and a great place to throw a party. All of these businesses have something unique to contribute to Rebel Road. All of the proceeds from this event benefit the Child Abuse Council of Muskegon County.
August 11th - Mona Lake Boat Poker Run
Join us on Mona Lake as we embark on our 9th Annual Mona Lake Boat Poker Run. Start with us at the Mona Lake Boat Club and go from dock to dock to gather cards in order to make the best hand and win a prize. All motorized boats are welcome: Pontoons & Boats - $30, Jet Skis and other small motorized watercraft. - $20. Each poker hand is $10. Raffle and Silent Auction to follow with Food and Drinks (available for purchase).
August 14th - Jen Vanderstelt Memorial CASA Kids Day Zoo Trip
Each year children involved with the CASA program in Muskegon County are invited to participate in our annual Jen Vanderstelt Memorial CASA Kids Day Zoo Trip. We also give each participating child a backpack filled with school supplies for the upcoming school year.
