LITTLE FLOCK — It takes a lot of faith to jump out of an airplane.
Sky divers have to trust the instructors - that they have adequately prepared them to leap out of a plane thousands of feet above the ground. They need to have faith in the pilot and the plane - that they can ascend to that height. Most of all, they need to have faith in the parachute.
Yet this pales in comparison to the faith abused children put in the Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County every day. The center worked a record 83 cases in May, close to double the typical 45 it sees each month. The previous record, set in February, was 72.
“I don’t think necessarily there’s more abuse happening; I think people are more aware of the signs,” says Emily Rappe of Fayetteville, the center’s director of development. “They know the hotline number is there - (800) 482-5964 - and it’s anonymous. ... [The increase] could be a good thing as far as us dealing with it and getting those children the help they need.”
Opened in 2000, the center works with child abusesurvivors in Benton County. They range in age from infants to 17 years old, and are referred by the Arkansas State Police or the Arkansas Department of Human Services. In the majority of cases, the child knows the abuser.
Once taken to the center, the child meets with an advocate, someone who will be with the child throughout the process, and often beyond. Advocates accompany children to court dates and help get them into counseling.
The center has forensic interviewers and a sexualassault nurse on staff, forwhen a medical examination is necessary.
“The interviews are childled; we don’t lead the interviews in any way,” Rappe says. “If we have to take their clothing for forensic evidence, we have a closet for boys and girls, all sizes and ages.”
The center is in the midst of an ongoing renovation and expansion, one that Rappe hopes will give it the capacity to serve more children. A sizable donation by John and Kathy Farrell will lead to increased play therapy and counseling space, and Judge Bob Clinard has provided for the construction of offices, which will allow additional staff to be hired.
The renovation began just over a month ago, and it’s set to be completed before Sept. 30, when an open house is planned from 4 to 6 p.m.
“A lot of people don’t know what we do,” Rappe says. “I get asked all the time if we house children here. [The center does not.]
“One of my goals is getting people to realize there’s a significant problem happening right here, and you need to do something about it.”
The center will be having its third annual Skydive for Kids on Aug. 4-5 at the Skydive Ranch, at the Siloam Springs Airport. Jumpers pledge to raise a minimum of $500, of which $260 covers the cost of training and the jump.
The remainder of the money jumpers raise goes to the center, and the sky is the limit on how much a participant can raise. One jumper, Rappe noted, has already raised more than $1,700.
In years past, Skydive for Kids has been capped at 40 jumpers, but this year, 100 can take part, up to 50 on each day. While the jumpers are descending to earth, the center will be hosting a picnic on the ground, which is open to the public, and costs $5. People who come to lunch are welcome to make additional donations, Rappe says, but it is not required.
The fundraising goal is$30,000, which would be a record for the event.
“It’s so awesome,” Rappe says of the event. “People loveit, because they’re like, ‘I was going to jump anyway, it’s on my bucket list, so why not do it for a good cause ?’”For more information about the Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County, call (479) 621-0385 or visit
cacbentonco.com
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Northwest Profile, Pages 29 on 07/22/2012