Abstract:
This paper will examine the social problem of Child Abuse in Lowndes County/Valdosta Georgia and the creation and impacts of the Deloris M. Parrish Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) by examining their cooperative and supportive relationships with community partners and law enforcement agencies. The following questions served as the principal guides for the development of this project: What is the historical background of the identification of Child Abuse in Valdosta/Lowndes County? What are the identified environments that incidents of Child Abuse occur? Why were Child Advocacy Services needed? When was the CAC established? What are its purpose(s)/mission? What has been its legacy, i.e., how effective or not has its programs and partnership efforts been? Who/what community partners, including city and county governments, are actively engaging in delivery of services to the identified children and their families? How are resources identified and acquired, including operational funding? Resources utilized for this project include library research tools, the Children's Advocacy Center's Website (caclowndes.org) and responses to personal interviews with Brenda Hodges, Director of the CAC; Jennifer Lockhart, Office Manager of the CAC and Joyce Evans, CAC Board Member and Commissioner, District 1 of Lowndes County.