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Where justice, recovery begins for young victims of abuse

Katie Scott | Catholic Herald

Pat Mudd, a diocesan victim assistance coordinator, looks over a play area at SafeSpot during the open house. A number of Arlington diocesan offices plan to use SafeSpot as a resource when they encounter potential abuse cases.

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Encouraging words by the author of “Winnie the Pooh” are printed on the walls of SafeSpot’s family advocacy room, where families gather prior to the forensic interview and where the non-offending caregiver meets with an advocate.

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Drawings by young clients line the walls of SafeSpot, a child advocacy center in Fairfax. The center is decorated with soothing, cheerful colors and designs.

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Michele Thames, executive director of SafeSpot and a parishioner of Holy Spirit Church in Annandale, pets Pecos during SafeSpot’s open house Nov. 5. As the center’s facility dog, Pecos helps comfort young abuse victims and reduces the stress of families and staff.

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Deacon Marques Silva, director of the Office of Child Protection and Safety, looks at a video monitor depicting the forensic interview room at SafeSpot during the Nov. 5 open house. A multidisciplinary team with representatives from law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, mental health and medical services watch forensic interviews in order to better assist young victims.

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SafeSpot recently relocated to a new facility in downtown Fairfax, nearly tripling its size in an effort to serve more victims of child abuse.

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It is always painful for a child to recall and articulate
abuse. Having to recount it repeatedly – at times enclosed
within the intimidating walls of a police station – adds
another layer of trauma.

SafeSpot in Fairfax City is a place where children who have
suffered sexual or severe physical abuse can tell their story
and receive support in a welcoming, soothing and
child-friendly environment.

As one of Virginia’s 15 children’s advocacy centers, SafeSpot
brings representatives from law enforcement, child protective
services, the courts, mental health and medical services to
the child.

“This is a centralized space where children can explain their
abuse just once,” said Michele Thames, executive director of
SafeSpot and a parishioner of Holy Spirit Church in
Annandale.

SafeSpot opened last February, but to help more young victims
it moved to a new Fairfax location in August, nearly tripling
its size. Focusing on Fairfax County, the center also serves
military families as well as other jurisdictions when space
is available.

At an open house Nov. 5, employees from diocesan Catholic
Charities, the Office of Child Protection and Safety, and the
Victim Assistance Office learned more about the nonprofit,
which they all plan to use as a resource in their respective
ministries.

Although the Victim Assistance Office deals primarily with
adults who were abused in the past, they have received calls
from adults reporting the abuse of minors.

Catholic Charities encounters cases of child abuse in its
outreach programs, especially in its counseling work, and
SafeSpot will be “a great referral source,” said Catherine
Hassinger, director of Catholic Charities’ Community
Services, who attended the open house.

According to the National Children’s Advocacy Center, up to
16 percent of children are abused physically each year. The
youngest children are the most vulnerable. Nearly 30 percent
of victims are younger than 3 years old, according to a 2013
report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’
Children’s Bureau. Les Anderson, a Fairfax County Police
detective, said he’s interviewed children as young as 2 and a
half years old.

“Abuse knows no barriers,” said Thames. “It cuts across race,
religion and income.”

Fairfax County, the fourth wealthiest county in the country,
is not immune from child abuse. Last year, more than 2,200
cases were referred to Fairfax County’s Child Protective
Services. Most abusers are someone the child knows, loves and
trusts.

Before Fairfax County had a children’s advocacy center,
children bounced from place to place to be interviewed by
CPS, nurses, therapists and law enforcement officers. The
latter interviews took place “in a cold, scary room” in the
police station, said Anderson.

Now young victims – ranging from 3 to 18 years old – enter
SafeSpot’s bright and cheerful rooms. Soft greens and blues
accent the downtown Fairfax office, and walls are painted
with colorful birds perched on fanciful trees and quotes from
Dr. Seuss and A. A. Milne.

The center even has a four-pawed presence to help make the
children more comfortable. Pecos, a yellow lab-retriever mix
with large brown eyes, is the center’s facility dog. Provided
by Canine Companions for Independence, he “offers comfort and
stress reduction to children, families, staff and
multidisciplinary team members,” said Thames. He accompanies
children in forensic interviews, therapy sessions and in
court proceedings.

The core of SafeSpot’s work is the forensic interview, which
allows a multidisciplinary team to help the child receive
appropriate services and to determine if a criminal case is
warranted.

When law enforcement or CPS receives information about
suspected abuse, they contact SafeSpot, where a child is
brought and the team gathers. One of two forensic interview
specialists speaks with the child as the team views the
videotaped interview from a separate room. The videotape is
considered evidence if a criminal investigation is opened.

Forensic interviewers receive specialized training and have a
background that includes social work, criminal justice and
psychology. They also have an understanding of child
development.

The goal “is to obtain the most accurate information in the
most child-friendly way,” said Maria Bonilla, SafeSpot
forensic interview specialist.

The interview is not therapy but information gathering, a
process that is “quite different when working with children
than adults,” Thames said. An adult “can answer who, what,
where, why, when, but not a 4-year-old.”

Some children have been told by abusers that if they reveal
the abuse they’ll go to jail, said Thames. So part of the
challenge is getting them to open up.

If a child becomes too distressed, an interview is postponed.
“They may need therapy or healing to take place before they
can go on,” Bonilla said.

SafeSpot provides free trauma-focused cognitive behavioral
therapy, a model shown to be effective in treating sexually
abused children, said Thames. Through a partnership with
Inova Fairfax, children may receive a forensic medical exam
at the hospital.

For the non-offending caregiver, SafeSpot offers family
advocacy, which includes referrals to counseling services,
legal assistance and housing help.

Thames hopes SafeSpot, which assisted 300 children last year,
eventually can offer additional services on-site and help
more children.

Attending the open house, Deacon Marques Silva, director of
the Office of Child Protection and Safety, said his office
receives calls from parents asking for referrals, and he’s
grateful to recommend a place like SafeSpot, “where the
dignity and the particular developmental needs of children
are acknowledged and protected.”

“Abuse happens every day, everywhere,” said Thames.
“SafeSpot,” added Deacon Silva, “is where justice and healing
can begin.”

How to help

To donate to SafeSpot Children’s Advocacy Center of Fairfax,
go here, or mail a check to
SafeSpot Children’s Advocacy Center of Fairfax, P.O. Box 148,
Fairfax, VA 22038.

To report abuse

If you suspect a child is the victim of abuse, call the
Virginia Child Protective Services hotline, 1-800-552-7096;
or call diocesan Catholic Charities’ Family Services North,
, or 703-425-0109 Family Services South, 540/371-1124.

Signs of sexual abuse

Most children who come to SafeSpot have been sexually abused;
1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused by the
age of 18, according to the National Children’s Advocacy
Center.

While not necessarily indicating abuse is happening, some red
flags include:

– behavior changes

– running away

– sexually transmitted disease

– pregnancy

– sexual behavior inappropriate for age

– unexplained bruises

– depression

– reporting abuse by parent or other caregiver

(Sources: Child Welfare Information Gateway and SafeSpot)

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