By Laurel Teel, Development Director

Past presidents of Child Protect’s Board of Directors gathered at our agency on January 26 for a social hosted by fellow past president, Guy Davis, in hopes of garnering support for our building campaign. Some of the attendees included current board president, Les Massey, along with Jo Anne Rousso, Judy Keating, Keith Karst, Lewis Gayden, Jon Killough, and Sandra Lewis. All of these individuals  have had a hand in laying the foundation for Child Protect’s building addition that will allow for an expansion of counseling services.

Guests enjoyed refreshments provided by BB&T, went on tours of the current facility with Child Protect staff, and viewed renderings of the building addition generously donated by Warren Marshall of Marshall Design-Build & Ed Brummal of PWBA Architects. To close the night, everyone watched the building campaign video and received a charge from Guy Davis to commit to securing the remaining donations needed. Guy is confident that the individuals present could and would help Child Protect raise the remainder of the building campaign funds. He encouraged all past presidents to give a minimum of $1,989 in honor of the year the agency was incorporated. “1989 was a great year. I got married, had my first child, and Child Protect was formed!”  Guy exclaimed.

It was a neat experience to see all these influential people gathered together in support of Child Protect's mission. You can see that they all still have a great passion for our organization, and I found myself feeling a renewed commitment to my role at CP.
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To date, Child Protect along with the building campaign committee, led by co-chairs Anita Carter and Kate Vance, has raised almost 70 percent of the total $598,000 goal.

On January 31, 2017, our Junior Executive Board hosted a meetup for our #1989Campaign at a local favorite, La Jolla. The small bar area was the perfect size and atmosphere for mingling with friends old and new. Guests sipped on libations of their choice, with $3 from every drink purchase going directly back to Child Protect. Our board members encouraged individuals to make a pledge toward the #1989Campaign to be entered into a raffle for some awesome prizes donated by The Shoppes at EastChase, MJ Yoga Wellness Studio, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and Blackfinn Ameripub.

The #1989Campaign, led by the Junior Executive Board, kicked off on #GivingTuesday and aims to support the construction of a new multidisciplinary team annex. This addition will provide space for trainings to educate the public on child abuse, a kitchen to implement “kitchen counseling”, offices for law enforcement and the Department of Human Resources, and a playground, among other things. The #1989Campaign, named in honor of the year Child Protect gained their 501©3 status, encourages individuals to give 1989, however they choose. Whether it be $19.89, $1,989, or a pledge of $19.89/month for a year, the Junior Executive Board wants you to have an opportunity to share in our vision.

​To date, the #1989Campaign has raised almost $4,000 in pledges and our team looks forward to raising many more dollars, playing our integral part in Child Protect's future. 

At Child Protect, our staff serves the children of Autauga, Elmore and Montgomery counties. Our case load is growing every year, and in 2016 we saw an increase from 590 interviews to 658. Of these 658 children, we only saw about 10% of them in counseling sessions. Improvement of that percentage is something we all can agree on. So, why don't as many kids come to counseling? A couple of ideas about why that may be happening: lack of transportation, distance to our office, money. Any of these things could factor into why children may not be getting the counseling they desperately need.

In 2017, Child Protect will be opening two satellite offices in order to meet the children where they are at. This expansion will provide more immediate and readily accessible services to children and their families, as well as the investigative agencies (law enforcement and DHR). These offices are being spearheaded by Emily Hutcheson, our current Programs Director, and Cammie Blackmon, our current Family Advocate and Office Manager. Emily is opening the Autauga county satellite office in Prattville and Cammie the Elmore county office in Wetumpka. ​By 2018, these satellite offices will be incorporated under Butterfly Bridge Child Advocacy Center in Chilton County, due to all 3 counties being a part of the 19th Judicial Circuit. 

There have been so many members of our communities who have stepped up to the plate and offered their service to get these offices up and running. District Attorney, Randall Houston, Chief Mark Thompson with Prattville Police Department and Autauga County Sheriff, Joe Sedinger have been extremely supportive in recognizing the need for this office in Autauga County. In Elmore County, Assistant District Attorney Mandy Johnson, Elmore County Sherriff Bill Franklin, Chief Danny Billingsley of Wetumpka Police Department, Millbrook Police Chief P.K. Johnson, the Tallassee Police Department, and Keith Holley have all been instrumental in this process. We thank each and every one of you from the bottom of our hearts. We are truly grateful!

**If you would like to get involved with either of these offices, give Emily or Cammie a call at our office. 334-262-1220.

By Laurel Teel

At Child Protect, our fiscal year runs from October 1 - September 30. Every year at the end of September our board and staff get together for our Annual Meeting to recap the year, celebrate, and pass the gavel. This year we met at the Capital City Club for their lunch buffet and it was fantastic! Anita Carter passed the gavel to Les Massey, now serving as President. Other officers include Michelle Parks as President-Elect, Delbert Madison as Treasurer, and Amanda Hines as Secretary.

Leading up to our annual meeting, we accept recommendations for new members and reach out to those who may have previously expressed an interest in joining us. Our three members joining the board this year came highly recommended, and all had an opportunity to come for a tour and meet the staff in order to decide if our organization was a good fit for them.
For our Junior Board, this was our second year to host an after-hours Open House. We had approximately twenty attendees come and take tours with the staff, mingle with our current junior board members and ask any questions they may have had about our agency. This year we welcomed six new young professionals as our agency’s ambassadors. The Junior Board has already hosted their first event of the year, our Annual Halloween Party, and it was a huge success raising over $1,100!

We are excited to spend the next year working with these wonderful people and appreciate their willingness to devote their time, resources, and ideas to our organization. Child Protect is extremely blessed.

Check out our new members.

​Our staff and team members spent an entire morning with WSFA filming an amazing video to highlight just how important this addition will be to our community. I was tasked with creating a compelling brochure in order to evoke an emotional response to give. (I used Adobe InDesign for the first time ever and it was quite the learning curve.) We finalized tent/table/linen rentals, catering, and a program for the evening. Our kickoff party was sure to be a great event!

On Thursday, November 10th, members of our executive and junior executive boards, our staff, and our guests gathered under a big white tent next door to celebrate our future. Everyone enjoyed delicious food provided by Debbie Kemsel Catering (Mac-N-Cheese bites, anyone??) while watching our campaign video, courtesy of WSFA. Our campaign goal of $598,000 was unveiled and guests previewed renderings and sketches of the floor plan. It truly was a wonderful fall evening full of energy and excitement.
 
Where do we go from here? What’s next? Today, I am excited that thanks to Jeanne Drummond and her commitment for the naming of our building, we have already reached 54% of our goal!! Jeanne is an Executive Board member with a heart for our organization and we are forever grateful for her service and this amazing gift. With that being said, our goal from the beginning of this process was to aim for a groundbreaking in April 2017, to celebrate Child Abuse Awareness Month and it looks like we should be right on schedule to do just that! I am so excited to get the rest of our money raised and to continue making an impact in our community.

​From:  Jere Beasley 
 
On the evening news we constantly hear about cases where an adult has abused a child in some manner. The abuse can be physical or emotional and both are very bad. It is absolutely impossible to comprehend how any adult could abuse a child. However, it happens quite often. Parents and persons who are in a custodial role must be must be aware of how to detect abuse and must be on guard.
 
It appears that children are abused and mistreated in several different ways, all of which are abhorrent to God. Children have a special place in God’s heart and any person who abuses a child invites God’s wrath. Child abuse in any form is evil and cannot be tolerated.
 
There is a tremendous need for groups and organizations whose mission is to protect children. One such group -- Child Protect, a group heavily involved in the battle against child abuse -- was incorporated in November 1989 as the Children's Advocacy Center. Child Protect serves Montgomery, Autauga, and Elmore counties. It is a 501(c)3 non-profit agency.
 
Child Protect assists the Department of Human Resources and law enforcement agencies in their investigation of child sexual abuse and child physical abuse. The evidence gathered by Child Protect during forensic interviews is turned over to the District Attorney's office for prosecution. Currently, Child Protect serves two judicial circuits; the 15th, which is Montgomery County, and the 19th, which includes Autauga and Elmore counties. Darryl Bailey is the District Attorney for the 15th Circuit and Randall Houston is the District Attorney in the 19th Circuit. Each of these men does a tremendous job of protecting children and we are most fortunate to have them in office.
 
Jannah Morgan Bailey, the Executive Director of Child Protect, does a tremendous job. Kate Vance, who is the wife of my law partner Gibson Vance, serves on the Board for Child Protect. Kate says: “It is a privilege to serve on the Board of Child Protect.  This is an organization that plays an integral part in protecting children and getting abusers behind bars.  Unfortunately, the need for their services has never been higher.” I totally agree with Kate.
 
We cannot tolerate child abuse and must do whatever it takes to see that our children are protected. I also strongly believe that those who abuse children must be prosecuted to the full extent of the criminal laws.
 
You can contact Jannah at 935 South Perry Street, Montgomery, AL 36104, by phone at 334-262-1220, or by email at info@childprotect.org to get more information about how you can be of help to Child Protect or to other similar organizations. We must all join in the battle to put a stop to child abuse and it’s one we can’t afford to lose.
 
My prayer today is for each of us to make protecting children a top priority in our lives. There can be no greater calling. These verses will help us.
 
Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Psalm 127:3
 
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10:14
 
See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.  Matthew 18:10
 
Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me. Mark 9:37
 
And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:2-6
 
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:2-3

By Laurel Teel

Child Protect hosted our 9th annual Chairs for Children fundraising event on April 28, 2016 at Union Station in the Visitor's Center. This was an especially exciting year for us because we moved venues, having previously held the event at ServisFirst bank.... we had just outgrown the space. We were very pleased with our ability to accommodate guests better with the open floor plan!! See photo below,

Chairs for Children features a live and silent auction of children’s chairs painted by local artists along with auction items from local businesses. This year featured artists included Carol Barksdale, Barbara Davis, Wally Lowery, Ruthie Carlson, Shirley Esco, Julia Wallace, Jamie Mitchell, Natalie Stanley, Joan DiLaura, and emerging artist Gina Budny, among others.

This is our signature event as well as one of our major funding sources. All money raised by Chairs for Children go right into our agency's direct services (forensic interviews, counseling, & family advocacy). Our presenting sponsor was ServisFirst, and catering provided by Jennie Weller Catering & Events. Beasley Allen was our Rocking Chair sponsor. Our Porch Chair sponsors included JK Lowder Family Foundation, Jim Wilson & Associates, and Burger King. Major Oil Company, Inc, BMW of Montgomery, the Law Offices of Roianne Conner, and Whitfield Foods, Inc. served as our Kitchen Chair sponsors. We are very grateful for each and every one of these companies and all the individuals who continue to attend and support our event! 

Have you ever heard the saying that what's done in the dark will come to the light? Working with children ages 2-18 has exposed me to things I would have never known or thought of as a kid much less an adult.  As my co-worker and I agreed, thank goodness we didn't have smartphones when we were kids! The advent of smartphones is actually a great thing. We have access to the world basically in the palm of our hands. We can buy anything, look at anything, research anything. As good as that is, it also means we can buy anything, look at anything, or research anything. If we have that access so does everyone else. In this digital age it is extremely important that as parents or anyone who works with or has any children in their life they love, that you know that your children have access to any and every thing- porn, inappropriate videos, explicit pictures. Unfortunately, not so nice people also have that same access. We have unfortunately seen a rise in children who are sending and receiving inappropriate media on their smart devices. It is extremely dangerous and unfortunately seemingly common. So the answer is not be afraid or overly worried but to be aware. 

What are some things to keep in mind?

• Have the passwords for your children's phone or some other way to track what is received and sent.
• Know their friends. 
• If your child becomes withdrawn or often stays alone in their room there may be something going on.
• Know popular social media sites and/or trends.
• Have honest conversation with your kids and keep the lines of communication open. 

Please when you have a chance look at this story, titled Facebook After Dark. Also, check out this app, developed to give kids a great looking alternative to sending inappropriate content when asked for it. This is one of the messages that can be sent and I must say is one of my favs.

The app can be downloaded from the App Store if you have an iPhone and the Google Play Store for Android users. 

 
Today I thought I would share common misconceptions/questions about Child Protect and give you the real deal. ​You can find out more about us by simply visiting our website and clicking on the About Us section.

• Are you child protective services?

          We are not. We work closely with our county Department of Human
          Resources or DHR. In other states the same office is called Child Protective
          Services or CPS. We assist DHR and Law Enforcement in investigating cases
          of alleged child abuse. Child Protect does that by providing a Forensic
          Interview.

• What is a forensic interview?

          A forensic interview is a single session, recorded interview designed to elicit a child’s           unique information when there are concerns of possible abuse or when the child has           witnessed violence against another person.  The forensic interview is conducted in a             supportive and non-leading manner by a professional trained in the NCAC Forensic             Interview model.  Interviews are observed by representatives of the agencies                         involved in the investigation (such as law enforcement and child protective services). 
               Source: http://www.nationalcac.org/intervention/forensic-services.html

• What agencies are involved in investigations?

          This is determined on a case-by-case basis. We work with our local Police and                       Sheriff departments as well as the Department of Human Services. We also partner             with federal or other state agencies when necessary.

• Can I, as a parent or concerned citizen, schedule an interview for a child?

          No. We receive our referrals from Law Enforcement and/or DHR (Department of                   Human Resources). We do not conduct the investigations. We are a resource                         provided to law enforcement and DHR to help aid them in their investigations. One or           both of the agencies must be present when the interviews are conducted. If you                   suspect abuse, please report the suspected abuse to your local Law Enforcement               officials or your county’s DHR office. You are able to anonymously report abuse.

• Can I watch the interview or be there with my child?

          From Child Protect’s inception, there has been a protocol developed and regularly               reviewed to ensure things are done in the best way possible. In an effort to keep the             investigative process as pure as possible we do not allow parents, non-offending                 caregivers or others to watch the interview as it is in process. The DVD recording is               the property of the county’s District Attorney’s office.

• What happens during an interview?

           The child is alone with the forensic interviewer in our interview room. The interview is            recorded and observed via closed circuit television by members of Law                                  Enforcement and/or Department of Human Services. The child is talked to in a non-            threatening child-friendly way.

• Are forensic interviewing and counseling the same?

          Absolutely not. The forensic interview is intended to gather information for                             investigators. As forensic interviewers we are the “kid-talkers”. It is not meant to be a             counseling session but only to talk to the children to gather facts and a statement                 regarding the presented allegations.
 
          Counseling is designed to help a child cope with what they have experienced.                       Counseling utilizes several different theories and techniques to help children cope               and process their experiences. The American Counseling Association defines                         counseling as, a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families,           and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. See             more information here, ACA.
 
 
​

Jannah M. Bailey
Executive Director

​I’ve been the executive director of Child Protect for 14 years, 8 months and 12 days but who’s counting?  Not me!  When I was asked to interview for the position, my response was “No, I don’t have the experience, the knowledge or math skills.”  All of which I felt like was important to be a director of a non-profit.  After I was hired however, I realized you needed something more to be the director of Child Protect.  You need an abundance of love, flexibility and the ability to answer the call of an abused child 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  Child abuse doesn’t take holidays or weekends off.  After almost 15 years at the helm, I can now understand why God called me to this position.
There have been a lot of changes over the years; staff, investigators, funding, board members, community partnerships and me.  The only thing that has remained a constant is the children that walk through our door every day.  They come in with smiles or tears, hungry or fed, happy or sad, dirty or clean, angry, embarrassed, with a supportive family or without, but all of them for the same reason, needing to tell their story.  And we are always here to listen, embrace, feed, clean, and most importantly to love and accept them no matter how they get to us.
Do I remember each one?  Hardly, since there have been thousands over the years but I can honestly say that each one of them has left their handprint on my heart and has changed me for the good.  No, I may not have had the typical qualifications for an executive director’s position and maybe math isn’t all that necessary as long as you never give out of love, hugs and Chef Boyardee. 

Emily Hutcheson
Program Director

Working at Child Protect for the past 9 years has been the most rewarding experience. Hearing the horrible, traumatic stories that children tell every day is extremely difficult, but knowing that we are one piece of their healing process makes it all worthwhile. Children are so resilient and it’s amazing what kids can overcome with the love and support from their family and friends. I’m so grateful to be able to work with these children and help them see the strength and courage they have within themselves to overcome whatever abuse they have endured. 

I graduated from Auburn University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and in 2006 from Auburn University Montgomery with a Master of Education in Counseling. I interned at Child Protect for 1 year prior to graduating and got hired in April of 2006. I have been married for 9 years and I have 2 girls, ages 6 & 3 years old, and a dog, Maya who is 8 years old. I enjoy being with my family, running when it’s not too hot or cold outside and watching Auburn Football. War Eagle! I have many favorite foods, but I would say some of my favorite are steak, poppyseed chicken and spaghetti.
 

Favorite Quote: “Be happy with what you have while working for what you want” – Helen Keller

Laurel Teel
Development Director

I am from Wetumpka and spent the majority of my childhood growing up at our family cabin on Lake Martin. When I finished high school I rebelled against my family’s ‘Tide Pride’ ways and went to Auburn. I graduated from Auburn University in 2010 with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. Following graduation I decided relocate to Charlotte, North Carolina where I was a pre-kindergarten teacher until 2013. I loved my time in the Queen City, and the friendships I made there will last a lifetime. After moving back to Alabama in 2013, I decided to bring a local chapter of Mustaches 4 Kids to Montgomery. Mustaches 4 Kids is an organization that is dedicated to doing good and  having fun while raising money for children’s charities, by way of facial hair. In our first fundraising season we saw much success, raising almost $3,200 for the Adullam House!  

In the week that I have been at Child Protect it has been a dream come true! There’s nothing like entering a place and feeling like you’ve made it home, and that is exactly how I feel. When I have thought about my future career and what I see myself doing every day, I have always said I picture myself out in the community making a difference. I am proud and thankful to be beginning that career with Child Protect.  

My loves:
Lake Martin
Pimento Cheese
Carolina Panthers (especially Luke Kuechly)
TJ Maxx
John Mayer, Sam Hunt, and the Black Keys
Addicted to coffee
30A beaches
The Bachelor franchise

Abraham White
Forensic Interviewer/Counselor

I graduated from Auburn University in 1999 with an undergrad in finance.  I’ve worked in fields from retail to banking to real estate.  After struggling to find a field that I felt was rewarding, I went back to school and finished my graduate degree in Agency Community Counseling from Auburn University Montgomery in 2008.  I found my vocational purpose while interning at Child Protect.  I worked at Child Protect from 2008-2013. I took a brief hiatus from the field and have recently returned to continue the job that I think I was meant to do.  It is very fulfilling to help people who are in need and are appreciative of the services.   I’ve been married 10 years to my wife Misha.  We have two beautiful kids Gabriel (8) and Gavin (3).  While some people never find what they are meant to do, I’m not only grateful to have found it, but to live it out every day.