Our Stories
Dear Child Protect, Letters from Victims of Abuse
"In an instance yours and your child's life can change and everything you thought you knew about being a parent and protecting your child from the evil is turned upside down. In all of this madness and confusion there was a group of individuals who offered and gave my daughter and I a sense of peace and hope when it seemed all had gone. Even though you as a parent are skeptical of anyone and everyone, they understand and are patient with everyone's feelings. Although we call them our guardian angels others refer to them as Child Protect, Children's Advocacy Center. Words can never express the gratitude that we owe them for all their hard work, love, and compassion. From the beginning until the conviction, they stayed by our side. Not only did they ensure that procedures were followed from a legal standpoint, counseled my daughter, but went the extra step to be with us on the day of the trial. Not I or anyone else I have spoken with can say that of any other agency. Looking back, Crystal, Emily and Jana showed more support than many of our family members. When my daughter started the counseling she was scared, hurt, and very confused, but Jana took her time and worked with my daughter and because of that she had the strength to get through this difficult time in her life. When time came for her to testify they had taught her to stand up for what was right and for herself. As they had promised, Emily was there the day of the trial testifying as to what my daughter had disclosed. With a portable DVD player and a bag of goodies, Crystal showed up and planned to stay for however long it took. I remember looking up and seeing her and thinking, "How Blessed we truly are." Thanks to these ladies, we were able to get the conviction and send this child molester to prison for 20 years. Even though a few years has passed they still call and email to check on us, and I still think and feel as I did then, that we are truly, truly Blessed to have them in our lives, even if the circumstances that brought them was not." -With Gratitude, J.R.
"At age 16, I was sexually assaulted by my cousin. Nervous and a bit reluctant, I took the huge step to report the sexual assault incident. I held on to this pain, heartache, misery, and yes embarrassment for three months before I could finally gain strength to come forward. Having the police come to my house and ask me the same questions over and over again made me almost regret this new found strength, until I was introduced to the team at Child Protect. I had passed by this building on so many different occasions, but it never once crossed my mind that I would be a part of their family. Meeting the staff and my counselor Emily was a breath of fresh air. I was very timid around new people and having to talk about what had happened to me was a hard pill to swallow, but my father assured me that one day, I would thank them. Emily and the Child Protect team were there for me every step of the way. Even after the legal aspect of everything was over, I continued counseling sessions there. Some days, I would look forward to getting out of school so that I could go to counseling, while other days I didn't think I had enough strength to address the situations at hand. Either way, each session was successful. I felt comfortable and safe while at my counseling sessions. I don't think I would have made it through that rough season of my life without my extended family at Child Protect and I am forever grateful. -Love, A.B.
"hey Mr. Abraham, I am on the color guard this year. we have been to 2 different competitions. I'm trying out for captain next year! I'm doing pretty good i took the ASVAB today at school. i have A'B honor roll this year so far. i still have nightmares but not as often or as bad as they use to be. i want thank you for listening to me and helping me out. oh yeah my step dad is adopting me." -Thanks, S.S.
"Child Protect has done many things for me. They basically made me part of their family. When I go for my appointment they offer me food and drink. The very first time I went to Child Protect I was 4 years old, and they let me choose a stuffed animal. The one I chose was a little duck that had a paint splattered dress, a pair of tennis shoes and my favorite a little sailor hat that the Trade Mark name Crayola on the front of the hat. And that's what I named her. And I still sleep with her to this day. My counselor Stephanie Andrews is my new Fairy Godmother because she helped my personal problems poof away. When I'm having an appointment we do fun activities to make talking about things so much easier. Child Protect has been such a BIG help to other children and my self about being sexually abused or some worse. And I hope Child Protect is still up and running until the end of time!" -Love, E.T.
"In an instance yours and your child's life can change and everything you thought you knew about being a parent and protecting your child from the evil is turned upside down. In all of this madness and confusion there was a group of individuals who offered and gave my daughter and I a sense of peace and hope when it seemed all had gone. Even though you as a parent are skeptical of anyone and everyone, they understand and are patient with everyone's feelings. Although we call them our guardian angels others refer to them as Child Protect, Children's Advocacy Center. Words can never express the gratitude that we owe them for all their hard work, love, and compassion. From the beginning until the conviction, they stayed by our side. Not only did they ensure that procedures were followed from a legal standpoint, counseled my daughter, but went the extra step to be with us on the day of the trial. Not I or anyone else I have spoken with can say that of any other agency. Looking back, Crystal, Emily and Jana showed more support than many of our family members. When my daughter started the counseling she was scared, hurt, and very confused, but Jana took her time and worked with my daughter and because of that she had the strength to get through this difficult time in her life. When time came for her to testify they had taught her to stand up for what was right and for herself. As they had promised, Emily was there the day of the trial testifying as to what my daughter had disclosed. With a portable DVD player and a bag of goodies, Crystal showed up and planned to stay for however long it took. I remember looking up and seeing her and thinking, "How Blessed we truly are." Thanks to these ladies, we were able to get the conviction and send this child molester to prison for 20 years. Even though a few years has passed they still call and email to check on us, and I still think and feel as I did then, that we are truly, truly Blessed to have them in our lives, even if the circumstances that brought them was not." -With Gratitude, J.R.
"At age 16, I was sexually assaulted by my cousin. Nervous and a bit reluctant, I took the huge step to report the sexual assault incident. I held on to this pain, heartache, misery, and yes embarrassment for three months before I could finally gain strength to come forward. Having the police come to my house and ask me the same questions over and over again made me almost regret this new found strength, until I was introduced to the team at Child Protect. I had passed by this building on so many different occasions, but it never once crossed my mind that I would be a part of their family. Meeting the staff and my counselor Emily was a breath of fresh air. I was very timid around new people and having to talk about what had happened to me was a hard pill to swallow, but my father assured me that one day, I would thank them. Emily and the Child Protect team were there for me every step of the way. Even after the legal aspect of everything was over, I continued counseling sessions there. Some days, I would look forward to getting out of school so that I could go to counseling, while other days I didn't think I had enough strength to address the situations at hand. Either way, each session was successful. I felt comfortable and safe while at my counseling sessions. I don't think I would have made it through that rough season of my life without my extended family at Child Protect and I am forever grateful. -Love, A.B.
"hey Mr. Abraham, I am on the color guard this year. we have been to 2 different competitions. I'm trying out for captain next year! I'm doing pretty good i took the ASVAB today at school. i have A'B honor roll this year so far. i still have nightmares but not as often or as bad as they use to be. i want thank you for listening to me and helping me out. oh yeah my step dad is adopting me." -Thanks, S.S.
"Child Protect has done many things for me. They basically made me part of their family. When I go for my appointment they offer me food and drink. The very first time I went to Child Protect I was 4 years old, and they let me choose a stuffed animal. The one I chose was a little duck that had a paint splattered dress, a pair of tennis shoes and my favorite a little sailor hat that the Trade Mark name Crayola on the front of the hat. And that's what I named her. And I still sleep with her to this day. My counselor Stephanie Andrews is my new Fairy Godmother because she helped my personal problems poof away. When I'm having an appointment we do fun activities to make talking about things so much easier. Child Protect has been such a BIG help to other children and my self about being sexually abused or some worse. And I hope Child Protect is still up and running until the end of time!" -Love, E.T.
