It's doubtful many people in New Smyrna Beach are aware of the work of the Children’s Advocacy Center or CAC. This is a group in Volusia County that works with the police and State Attorney’s Office performing a function very similar to the special victims unit seen on the TV show “Law and Order - SVU.”
Maryann Barry, chief executive officer of the CAC, said her agency has had great success in helping children and young adults recover from the effects of sexual abuse and in preventing abuse from reoccurring.
In the performance of their function, members of CAC gather forensic evidence and testimony from the victims to help in the prosecution of the guilty.
They help the victims and families to prevent the problems from recurring and finally they are very good at helping the victims recover from the effects of their abuse.
When asked what she would like the citizens of New Smyrna to know about their work she gave the following list of important points:
# 1 in 3 girls are subject to rape and sexual abuse;
# 1 in 4 boys are subject to sexual abuse;
# With quick treatment only 1% of victims will be victimized again;
# Without quick treatment 75% of victims will be victimized again;
# CAC achieved a 98% conviction rate on perpetrators in 2008;
# They handled about 300 cases last year;
# The CAC facilities must be local or the victims will not go to them. In order to carry out this work the workers at the CAC have been trained to question little ones in a way that will stand up in court to help get convictions on child molesters.
These workers counsel families on how to recognize and deal with the threats to their youngsters. Most of all, they teach the youngsters how to avoid and to report people who prey on them. They are taught not to keep secrets from their trusted elders.
Trained CAC personnel treat the abused children to help them overcome the trauma of what has happened to them. They are very effective at treating these problems. Right now one of CAC’s biggest needs is to find a new home.
The agency is currently located in the old Colonial bank building on the North Causeway.
The building has just been sold and the Children's Advocacy Center will have to move by Dec. 1.
Of course, with all the cutbacks in their funding sources, Children's Advocacy Center will take all of the help it can get in monetary form as well as office space.
Those who want to help in this critical effort should contact Jack Housley at (386) 689 3743 or Diane Becker at (386) 238 3830. Your help will go for a very worthwhile as well as successful program.