April is National Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month.

Among the leaders working to prevent child abuse and helping victims is Dawn Long, executive director of the Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center (BRACAC). She spoke to a recent Wednesday breakfast meeting of the Glasgow Kiwanis Club.

The mission of BRACAC is to reduce trauma to child abuse victims by providing one safe, child-friendly location where teams of professionals work together to pursue justice and offer treatment. Located at 103 E. 12th St. in Bowling Green, the center serves children and families in Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson and Warren counties.

During fiscal year 2007, BRACAC provided services to 539 child victims and 312 non-offending family members and / or caregivers from the 10 county area. The center opened in January 2001.

The center provides on-site forensic interviews by a professionally trained forensic interviewers, law enforcement or social service workers. During fiscal year 2007 the center conducted 120 forensic interviews and hosted 78. Five volunteer pediatric or family physicians provide on-site comprehensive child sexual abuse medical examinations. These physicians are on-call around the clock and last year provided 156 comprehensive exams.

BRACAC also provided on-site crisis intervention and case management, assisted with victim compensation claims, court preparation and a wide range of victim and personal advocacy services. “We work with a child through the system’s initial response to a child’s disclosure through, hopefully, a successful prosecution,” Long said.

Long stated about one-third of the cases are prosecuted. “Child sexual abuse cases are much more difficult and hard to investigate,” she emphasized. “The crime scene is different; family members choose sides. The victim is often confused because of the exploitation by someone who has influence over his or her life.”

Kiwanis members were encouraged to “quietly think about the statistics — one out of four females and one out of six males will be a victim of child sexual abuse by age 18. Statistics also indicate that 95 percent of offenders are male and 90 percent are related to the victim or a close friend, neighbor, teacher or an individual who has power over the victim.”

How can individuals help with child sexual abuse? “Report, report, report,” Long stressed. “The law states you do not need proof, only concern. So often victims state that no one asked them about the problem.”

BRACAC is also in need of board members to help create awareness and assist with securing support. Community organizations are encouraged to invite a BRACAC speaker and include the organization in annual funding.

Krista Stennbergen, a member of the BRACAC board of directors, expressed appreciation for the leadership Long provides the organization. “Dawn has a great passion for this work and we are grateful for her tireless efforts,” Stennbergen said. “We have a need for additional financial support. One-third of our budget comes from community contributions. We are embarking on private fundraising and if support does not increase we may have to sign a loan to cover costs.”

On Saturday, April 5, BRACAC hosted the ninth annual Great Teddy Bear Run, a community motorcycle ride to benefit the child advocacy center.