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Mission
History
What is

Our Mission

The Carroll County Child Advocacy Center exists to champion the needs of sexually, physically, and emotionally abused children in Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties through prevention, intervention, therapy, collaboration, and healing.

Our History

On May 17, 2012 County Commission Chair Bill Chappel, Darkness to Light Facilitator Emily Cole, Carrollton City Manager Casey Coleman, Carroll DFCS Director Charlene Harrod, Darkness to Light Facilitator Jill Hesterlee, State Representative Dustin W. Hightower, Carroll County Sheriff Terry Langley, Carrollton Police Chief Joel Richards and District Attorney Pete Skandalakis met at Carrollton Presbyterian Church with Nancy Chandler who represented Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia to discuss the steps that needed to be taken to establish a child advocacy center in Carroll County. At that meeting additional stakeholders were identified and stakeholder meetings continued through August during which time individuals were identified to serve on the founding board of directors for Carroll County Child Advocacy Center.

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On September 27, 2012 the founding board held their first meeting. Those serving on the founding board were: Andrea Chapman, Emily Cole, Susan Fleck, Vickie Fulbright, Jan Gibbs, Charlene Harrod, Jill Hesterlee, Dusty Hightower, Shonda Jensen, Terry Langley, Bruce Lyon, Michael Mansour, Peter Maierhofer, Joel Richards, Pete Skandalakis, and Danielle Tolbert. At the March 2013 meeting Jill Hesterlee resigned from the board to assume duties of a forensic interviewer. On April 15, 2013 Tracy O. Lewis-Martin was hired as a full time director who would also conduct forensic interviews. On April 25, 2013 a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held with children, grandchildren and young friends of board members of Carroll County Child Advocacy Center, along with Jill Hesterlee, forensic interviewer and Tracy O. Lewis-Martin the director and forensic interviewer, officially opening the facility.

What Is a Child Advocacy Center?

To understand what a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is, you must understand what children face without one. Without a CAC, the child may end up having to tell the worst story of his or her life over and over again, to doctors, police, lawyers, therapists, investigators, judges, and others. They may have to talk about that traumatic experience in a police station where they think they might be in trouble. Or they may be asked the wrong questions by a well-meaning teacher or other adult that could hurt the case against the abuser.


How The CAC Model Works

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To understand what a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is, you must understand what children face without one. Without a CAC, the child may end up having to tell the worst story of his or her life over and over again, to doctors, cops, lawyers, therapists, investigators, judges, and others. They may have to talk about that traumatic experience in a police station where they think they might be in trouble, or may be asked the wrong questions by a well-meaning teacher or other adult that could hurt the case against the abuser.

 

When police or child protective services believe a child may be experiencing abuse, the child is brought to the CAC—a safe, child-focused environment—by a caregiver or other “safe” adult. At the CAC, the child tells their story once to a trained interviewer who knows the right questions to ask in a way that does not not retraumatize the child. Then, a team that includes medical professionals, law enforcement, mental health, prosecution, child protective services, victim advocacy, and other professionals make decisions together about how to help the child based on the interview. CACs offer therapy and medical exams, plus courtroom preparation, victim advocacy, case management, and other services. This is called the multidisciplinary team (MDT) response and is a core part of the work of CACs.

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Meet Our Team

Team

Our staff is a group of caring, well-trained professionals that are here to support you and your child.

Our Team

Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.

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R. Allen Babcock

Executive Director & Forensic Interviewer

Allen is passionate about bringing additional services while still connecting families to existing services in our community. In addition to his administrative duties as Executive Director, Allen also serves the center as a credentialed ChildFirst forensic interviewer for children. 

 

He recently returned to Rome, where he was born and raised, after 20 years of teaching and leading in independent schools across the United States as well as in Switzerland and China.

A lifelong learner, Babcock completed his graduate studies in the organization leadership department at Columbia University’s Teachers College. He brings to the CC-CAC team years of experience in leading organizations and a passion for service.

Our Team

Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.

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Allison Robinson

Forensic Interviewer & Prevention Coordinator

Allison is our Prevention Coordinator and a Forensic Interviewer for CC-CAC.  As Prevention Coordinator, one of Allison's priorities is providing and facilitating the Stewards of Children: Darkness to Light training for adults throughout Carroll, Haralson, & Heard counties.  This training teaches adults critical steps for preventing, recognizing, and responding to child sexual abuse within their community.  As a Forensic Interviewer, Allison is trained to conduct child forensic interviews for children ages two through 17.

 

Allison joined us in April 2019 after being employed for eight years as the Program Coordinator for the Carroll County Recreation Department. She holds a degree in Spanish from the University of West Georgia. Allison enjoys spending time with her family, photography, and coaching her children in sports. 

Our Team

Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.

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Savanna Knowles

Forensic Interviewer & Family Advocate

Savanna is a Forensic Interviewer and Family Advocate at CC-CAC. As a Family Advocate, she provides on-going support, resources, and intervention services to families and children. She is very passionate about being a voice for ALL children. Savanna expressed her interest in forensic interviewing, and in August 2023 she earned her certification in the ChildFirst® Forensic Interview Protocol.

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Savanna joined CC-CAC in January of 2023 as a senior university student intern, and in April she started her position as a Family Advocate. She is now a graduate from the University of West Georgia with a B.S in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. In her free time, Savanna really enjoys connecting with her family and friends, traveling and sight-seeing, and trying new restaurants.

Our Team

Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.

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Lynn M. Capps

Family Advocate

Lynn is a Family Advocate at the CC-CAC who provides ongoing support, community resources and intervention services for Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties. Her passion for helping kids started with volunteering at her son's school which led to her becoming a Special Education teacher in Carrollton and Douglasville.

 

Lynn joined the CAC as a volunteer in November of 2023 and became a full time Family Advocate in April 2024. She is a veteran of the United States Navy where she repaired the navigation systems for F-14's. She received her B.S. in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University in 2004 and studied Special Education at West Georgia University. Lynn is looking forward to training as a Forensic Interviewer to better serve the families of our community. She enjoys reading, spending time with friends, live music and papercrafting.

Our Team

Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.

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Mariana Reyes

Forensic Interviewer & Family Advocate

Mariana is a Bilingual Family Advocate at the CC-CAC who provides on-going support, community resources, and intervention services for families and children who reside in Carroll, Haralson, and Heard counties. Mariana is a ChildFirst and RADA credentialed Forensic Interviewer. She is very passionate about this field of work to help children and families find their voice and be their voice when needed.

 

Mariana joined the CC-CAC in January 2024 as a senior university student intern, and in May she started her full-time position as a Family Advocate. She is now a graduate from the University of West Georgia with a B.S. in Psychology and minor in Criminology. She plans on returning to graduate school in the near future. Mariana enjoys hiking, attending concerts, and spending quality time with her husband and pet dog.

Our Team

Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.

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Desireé Kendricks

Forensic Interviewer & Family Advocate

Desireé is Family Advocate and Forensic Interviewer at CC-CAC.  She will provide comprehensive support to families in Carroll, Haralson and Heard Counites.  With a background in case management and a passion for working with children and families, Desiree is dedicated to advocating for her client's best interests.  She completed her RADAR forensic interviewer training in June 2024 and FIND (Forensic Interviewer for Individuals with Disabilities) training in October 2024. 

 

Desireé joined CC-CAC in June 2024.  She earned her degree in Social Work from Savannah State University.  She is excited to be back providing services for her home county.  In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and volunteering with her children's extracurricular activities.

Board

Board of Directors

Baylee Cates - Chair

Clinical Instructor,

University of West Georgia

Kevin Bush - Treasurer

Finance Director,

City of Carrollton

Cason Hightower

Funeral Director,

Hightower Family Funeral Homes

Joel Richards

Chief,

Carrollton Police Department

Brooke Mobley

Executive Director,

Partners for Advancing Student Success (PASS)

Dr. Tim Thomas - Vice Chair

Physician,

Tanner Health System

Allison Key

Physician,

3:16 Family Medicine

Betty Cason

Mayor

City of Carrollton

Jennifer Dobbs

Executive Director,

Haralson Family Connections

Scott Broome

Business Owner,

The Barnes Store

Pam Uglum - Secretary

Business Owner –

Deloach Management Inc.

Jill Hesterlee

Community Member

Lori Tuggle

Community Member

Tabitha Walker

Principal

Carrollton Upper Elementary

Emily Cole

Board Emeritus

Community Member

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