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2010 GOALS |
2010 HISTORY |
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TAMMY KING
Executive Director
Children's Advocacy
Center
serving Johnson County |
As we reflect on the years of change
and growth and look ahead to the goals we have set for the
Children's Advocacy Center, we would like to say "Thank You" to
all of you who played a role in making it possible to meet the
needs of child victims. We are able to say, with absolute
certainty that in this day and age, the only constant for
non-profits is change, and this past year has certainly brought
change to the Children's Advocacy Center. |
In 2009, we were successful in
securing a new location and moved in May of 2009. In August,
thanks to the help of numerous community volunteers, we were able
to begin the work on the Outdoor Therapeutic Area which consists
of an outdoor art easel, water therapy table, sand box, swings and
play structures. In October, volunteers once again united
with us on a project for a Day of Caring, sponsored by Johnson
County United Way, to help us begin work on the Serenity Garden
area for the children we serve. There is still much work to
be done, but great strides have been made in making the new
facility a wonderful place for children to begin healing and to
reclaim hope.
We are constantly striving to find
the best way to serve these children and their non-offending
family members. We have been blessed to see the smiling
faces of these children as they embrace our therapy dogs, race
their therapists to the outdoor area, and to see the calm in them
as they realize that they are in a safe place where their needs
can be met and they find that someone truly cares.
Taking a child from a "nightmare"
doesn't happen instantaneously. It can take months, years or
even a lifetime to chase those fears and memories away. We
are very proud of the work that each detective, CPS investigator,
prosecutor, counselor, interviewer, medical professional, juvenile
service professional, victim's advocates and intake workers
provide on behalf of these children. They work tirelessly
with community friends to raise funds to keep our doors open.
Every dollar raised represents a life that can be changed and we
have been humbled by the generous spirit of our supporters.
Thank you for helping the Center replace nightmares with dreams of
hope, peace and a life with endless possibilities!
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In 1996,
a group of volunteers with the Child Welfare Board of Johnson
County saw the need for more specialized and direct assistance
to law enforcement in response to crimes committed against
children. Members of that group included Nancy Devaney, Terri
Wilson, Ruth Ann Hill and Byron Black. The
foresight and wisdom of this group saw the planning sessions
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Sheriff Bob Alford
Johnson County |
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evolve
into a Children’s Advocacy Center for Johnson County (CAC),
The statewide concept of a CAC was in its infancy and
Johnson County was one of only eight centers throughout the
state.
The
founding group then recognized the need to develop a strong
Board consisting of a cross-section of Johnson county and set
about to recruit members with a heart for children and a
willingness to volunteer their time and talents. Thus was
created a Center that today has been used as a model for other
Children’s Advocacy Centers. The founding group recruited Nella Wright and Sue Rebstock, who along with Nancy, Ruth Ann
and Terri have continued to serve in various positions on the
Board of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Johnson County.
Byron Black stayed on the Board for an extended period of time
and his wife, Barbara, now serves on the Board.
In 1997,
the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) of Johnson County became
a reality. Child Protective Services and local Law
Enforcement personnel were appointed as Board members. State
protocol provided that the three largest law enforcement
agencies in the County, the Sheriff’s Office, Cleburne Police
Department and Burleson Police Department should have a
permanently assigned Board member based on a rightful belief
that the majority cases would originate from these three
agencies. The smaller agencies combined to vote on one
representative and this practice continues today.
One of the first challenges for the new Board was that of
funding to off-set very limited funding from the state. In
1997, Board Member Byron Black organized and implemented a
golf tournament, which netted a small but significant profit
for the CAC. In 1998, a Children’s Stick Horse Rodeo was
added, along with a police and firefighter amateur Rodeo. The
profit from that event was $10,000.
In 1999,
the second year of the amateur rodeo event netted over
$14,000. The rodeo continued and the CAC was blessed and
encouraged with a moderate increase in net profit each year.
In 1999, the rodeo and the golf tournament continued to raise
the much needed additional |
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funding to operate, staff and maintain the CAC for Johnson
County. During these growing years the CAC of Johnson County
had three executive directors. In 2000, the CAC Board selected
Tammy King, to serve as the Executive Director, a move that
has proven over and over again to be the right decision for
the CAC. Under Tammy’s leadership the CAC has
experienced continued growth and improved services for the
child victims and non-offending family members whom OUR center serves.
In 2005, the CAC Board made a brave and bold move, at the
suggestion of Charlie Throckmorton, and ventured into the Bull
Riding Arena. The CAC Board produced the first NPBR Bull
Riding Event, headlined by Donnie Gay (8 time World Champion
Bull Rider) & Pam Minick (former Miss Rodeo Texas). Pam
suggested the addition of a Celebrity Team Roping Event to
bring in additional celebrities to draw a larger crowd at the
event. The success of the event netted over $54,000, which
set a new CAC record.
In 2006, relishing the successes of the previous year, the CAC
Board courageously moved into the big-time when they changed
to a PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Sanctioned Event. Sheriff
Alford suggested that they host a dinner/auction on the Friday
night preceding the Saturday Children's Stick Horse Rodeo, Celebrity Team
Roping and the PBR Bull Riding. J.J. and Bobby Norris donated
the use of their spacious and artfully designed indoor arena
for the Friday night dinner. Numerous celebrities attended
and Friday night dinner was a huge success. It has grown into
a major and eagerly anticipated event of its own each year.
In 2007 and 2008, the Children's Stick Horse Rodeo, the Friday night
dinner/auction, Celebrity Team Roping, Wild Steer Saddling (a
carryover from the Rodeo days) and of course the PBR Bull
Riding continued to grow in size, number of celebrities and
attendance at all of the events. The PBR has attracted the
very best of bull riders and bulls from the PBR circuit. The
celebrities who have volunteered their time and talents to OUR
fundraisers have included: Donnie Gay, Pam Minick, Susie
McEntire Luchsinger, Debbie
Garrison, Sonny Burgess, Dean Smith, Barry Corbin, Larry
Mahan, Roy & Tuffy Cooper, Charlie Throckmorton, Buck Taylor,
Red Stegall, Walt Garrison, Bobby Norris, Dan Roberts, Alex
Cord, Ted Nuce, Robert Fuller, Jennifer Savage, Byron Walker,
Jay Novacek, Randy Watson and Chad Eubank (who also just
joined the Board of the CAC).
The Rodeo/Bull Riding Events have netted over $1,000,000 for
YOUR Children’s Advocacy Center in our twelve years of
fundraising. Since 2008, the PBR & dinner have become the only
fundraiser for OUR CAC.
The overwhelming success of the Dinner
and PBR event would not be possible without the faithful
support and generous contributions from our corporate and
individual sponsors. "YOU", the corporate and individual
sponsors, are the reason that "OUR CENTER" can continue to serve
the citizens who need our help the most, the victims of
sexual, physical and mental abuse, "OUR CHILDREN"!!
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