By Andrew Edwards
Staff Writer
Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center of Autauga, Elmore and Chilton counties provide forensic interviews, counseling and family advocacy services to child abuse victims all across central Alabama.
Child Protect Children’s Advocacy Center located in Montgomery, Alabama historically served child abuse victims in Autauga County for more than 20 years. The services were only provided at the office in Montgomery.
Under the leadership of Jannah Morgan Bailey and Emily Hutcheson, in 2017 the community saw the need for a local center to serve the children in Autauga County. The addition of the new satellite office would greatly lessen the difficulty for all children who needed the services to receive them.
In October of 2017, the Autauga County Child Protect satellite office incorporated under Butterfly Bridge, Children’s Advocacy Center in Chilton County. The 19th judicial circuit in Alabama serves Autauga, Elmore and Chilton County so now all three of these offices can work together as one to provide services to the child abuse victims and their families.
However, a new challenge arises for Butterfly Bridge as many victims are trapped with their abusers due to the COVID-19 shutdown.
Child protective service agencies across the U.S. received 4.3 million reports alleging abuse and neglect of 7.8 million children in 2018 alone, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
According to Dr. Melissa Merrick, president and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America, “Risk factors for child abuse and neglect – including parental stress, economic instability and housing insecurity – increase in situations like this. School and workplace closings greatly increase stress in parent’s lives. Children with existing behavioral problems are prone to act out as their parents’ tension levels rise.”
Now, more than ever, is the time to help child abuse victims in the area – specifically in your local community.
Currently, Butterfly Bridge is expanding their Elmore County location located at 633 Coosa River Parkway to allow for more space to provide services.
“Currently all of our staff shares one office, so with this expansion we will each have our own office, a family consultation room, and a board/meeting room where we can have meetings and allow the caregivers to be able to meet with law enforcement and DHR following the forensic interview instead of having to be crammed into a room with four chairs,” says Assistant Director/Child Forensic Interview Specialist at Butterfly Bridge, Emily Hutcheson.
Butterfly Bridge was planning on having a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Wetumpka Chamber to celebrate the occasion on April 1st, but due to COVID-19, will have to reschedule.
Butterfly Bridge has been greatly affected in the past weeks in the wake of COVID-19. Their fundraising efforts have taken a negative turn as businesses and individuals are not capable of giving at the moment.
However, you can still donate to help keep this organization afloat and, in turn, help fight childhood abuse!
Butterfly Bridge has many different levels of giving, all of which can be seen at http://www.butterflybridgecac.org/donate.php
During this time, it’s extremely important that you keep a watchful eye on children if you expect something is wrong. If you feel like a child is in an abusive environment, feel free to contact Butterfly Bridge at http://www.butterflybridgecac.org/contact.php
