The Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center held an open house for it’s new Brownwood Satellite office on Tuesday. Many involved in Brown County’s child welfare advocacy groups as well as those in law enforcement and prosecution were in attendance.
The new office is located at 1409 Early Blvd. in Early and will be opening soon to facilitate the needs of children in our own community who have experienced sexual and/or physically abused or a witness to violent crimes and their families.
This center will provide necessary services to investigate and interview these cases involving children in our area. The Brownwood Satellite Center will provide a medical room for sexual assault examinations, interviews, and an area where law enforcement can observe the interviews via closed circuit television and meet with the staff regarding these cases.
In the past, the children who are the victims or innocent observers of violent crimes have had to travel with law enforcement to the Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center in Burnet, Texas for these emotional exams and interviews. These children have already experienced crimes making them victims and the Center diligently works to provide the least traumatic experience for them as possible to get the information and evidence that is necessary to prosecute offenders on the child’s behalf.
“Bringing these services to Brown County is something that is needed because prior to these kids, their family, and investigators had to travel an hour and 45 minutes to Burnet,” stated HCCAC Executive Director Mikey Betancourt.
Many of the HCCAC’s clients have been from Brown County in the past several years. In fact, Program Director Doris Graeter stated that the majority of the children come to the center from Llano, Burnet and Brown counties. HCCAC serves eight counties, which include Blanco, Brown, Burnet, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, Mills and San Saba counties.
“We focus on the allegations of abuse, it is not actually abuse until it is confirmed,” stated Betancourt. “We provide forensic interviews and therapy services, forensic evaluations and crisis counseling to the kids.”
With the help of one of their generous supporters, Hope for Tomorrow was instrumental in helping secure the location for the HCCAC Brownwoood Satellite Office according to Betancourt.
The services of the Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center are funded partially by grants and foundations; however, it has to rely on community support as well. It is a state mandated organization that is nonfunded, which means that once the organization is established in a community, it is necessary that it exists, Betancourt explained. Community support can come from direct monetary or material donations, and also through the support of fundraisers that benefit the center.
One such fundraiser will be the Bunny Run 5K to benefit the HCCAC on Saturday, April 2. The Bunny Run will take place at Riverside Park in Brownwood at 9am. Registration is $20 through April 1, then $25 on the day of the run. Registration also includes a t-shirt. Click here for a registration form or pick one up at KOXE or Brownwood Chamber of Commerce.
Pictured above are staff and administration of Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center: Karen Michie, Counseling Intern; Amy Callaway, Interviewer; Jane Price, Community Educator; Mikey Betancourt, Executive Director; Tori Walker, Family Advocate; Doris Graeter, Director of Programs; Susan Kulbeth, Director of Clinical Services; Pam Rogers, Volunteer Coordinator; and Deborah Keith, Project Development.
Pictured below are the Brownwood Satellite Office of HCCAC and the board meeting in the currently unfurnished Brownwood Satellite office.
