Page 7 - Stuart Exposure - November '21

Stuart Exposure, Page 7

Good Works from page 6 and child advocacy in action: resources in our community. Child advocacy centers
The utilization of Zoom drew an audience from all over unify the system in a local way
time, skills, or supplies, attend an event, become an advocate, the state and attracted professionals in child welfare from as leading to higher standards
or simply spread news of this essential endeavor among your far away as The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. and more accountability.
family, friends, and networks. To get involved or find out more, Keynote speaker and champion for children State Senator Harrell also shared
please call (561) 855-4207, visit www.wvrf.org, find us at the Gayle Harrell opened the summit speaking about the advent information regarding
Wounded Veterans Relief Fund on Facebook and LinkedIn, of the new child advocacy center (CAC) in the 19th Circuit, the passage of two child-
or follow us at WVReliefFund on Twitter and Instagram. As which she is hopeful to see open by the end of the year. focused Senate bills. Senate
former President Calvin Coolidge once said, “The nation which Bill 80 requires that every
forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.” child’s case record include
a face sheet (a synopsis of
Guardians For New Futures best-interest facts) to help
determine the child’s most
Child Summit 2021 appropriate courses of action.

Senate Bill 96, Harrell
Article and Photos by MaryAnn Ketcham stated, deals with the
The Guardians for New Futures Ninth Annual Child juxtaposition of child abuse
Summit successfully engaged well over 200 participants and animal abuse.
in person at Baron Real Estate in Port St. Lucie and via CEO Caroline Vinyard
Zoom. The two-day event consisted of informative talks espoused the benefits
and presentations by experts from various fields with a dual of the coming CAC. “By
focus – changing the child abuse system in our community establishing a circle of
care and colocating all of
the stakeholders, we can
significantly reduce the
trauma of the child. The child
won’t have to tell their story
multiple times.”
Addi ti ona l t opi cs
covered included the impact
of domestic violence on
children, children’s mental
health after COVID-19,
victim advocacy services,
neuropsychological findings
in child abuse cases, Florida
sexual abuse treatment
programs, interviewing
perpetrators in child sexual abuse cases, equine and music
therapy, and understanding grief and loss in children.

A Sheriff’s panel moderated by WPTV’s Jon Shainman
included Okeechobee Sheriff Noel Stephen, St. Lucie County
Sheriff Chief of Staff Garry Wilson, Lt. Yesenia Carde of the
Martin County Sheriff’s Department, Captain Kyle King of
the Indian River Sheriff’s Department, and Assistant Special
Agent in Charge Sheldon Burkett of the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA).
This module shed light on the uptick in disruptive behavior
and mental health issues due to the COVID-19 lockdowns,
Internet crimes against children by online predators through
new apps, the rise in human trafficking, and more.
Guardians for New Futures President Debbie Butler
pointed out that “Sadly, these issues know no socioeconomic
barriers.”
For more information, please visit GFNF4Kids.org.

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