Every 25 minutes a baby is born suffering from opioid withdrawal and 8.7 million children nationwide have a parent who suffers from a substance use disorder according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children’s exposure to their parents drug use is impacting children across the nation. Here in Cannon and Rutherford Counties the number of drug exposed children is increasing annually.
The Women’s World Summit Foundation is sponsoring the 8th annual 19 Days of Activism for the Prevention of Abuse and Violence Toward Children and Youth. This international event happens every year from November 1-19. For the 8th time, the Child Advocacy Center and local agencies that assist drug endangered children and child abuse victims are participating in the event.
According to Child Advocacy Center Community Education Coordinator Brittnie Noble, “The local theme of the 2018 19 Days of Action is the impact on children of their parent’s use of opioids and other drugs. As millions of families struggle with substance abuse, children are left to pay the price.”
The Child Advocacy Center is a non-profit agency that serves victims of child abuse, child sexual abuse, and drug endangered children. The Center works as a multi-disciplinary team with the Department of Children’s Services, law enforcement, and the District Attorney’s Office to respond to child abuse cases. The Drug Endangered Children program teaches families how to cope with addiction issues. Services include alcohol and drug education, relapse prevention, anger management, parenting and communication skills, and stress management.
Child Advocacy Center Cannon County Coordinator Cassell Davis said, “Often the children’s caretakers are single parents or grandparents because one or more of the parents is incarcerated, or uninvolved due to their drug use. As a result, these children and their caretakers often struggle physically, emotionally, socially, and financially. At times, these children also begin to experiment with drugs themselves, and the services offered by the Child Advocacy Center help them through the treatment process and are free to the community. The Advocacy Center also provides In Home Counseling, Drug and Alcohol Education, Work or School Intervention, Court Advocacy, and assistance with food, blankets, clothing, and any other forms of support the family may need.”
The 19 Days of Activism Campaign is a multi-issue coalition of diverse organizations and partners to help create public awareness and support at the local, national, and international level to educate the public about the plight of drug endangered children and their families.
During the 19 Days of Activism, the Child Advocacy Center has two goals. The first goal is that the 19 partner agencies will sponsor press releases to educate our community about child abuse, with a focus on the impact of opioids and substance abuse on children.
The Partner Agencies are:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee
Boys and Girls Club
Child Advocacy Center
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Department of Children Services
District Attorney’s Office for the 16th Judicial District
Domestic Violence Shelter
Family Center
Guidance Center
La Vergne Police Department
MTSU Child Development and Family Studies Program
Murfreesboro City Schools
Murfreesboro Police Department
NorthStar Pain Management
Nurses for Newborns
Prevention Coalition For Success
Primary Care and Hope Clinic
Rutherford County Fire Department
Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office
Smyrna Police Department
Stones River Recovery
The second goal is the Child Advocacy Center will sponsor Darkness to Light trainings to educate parents, grandparents, and professionals on how to protect children from child sexual abuse and what to do if a child discloses abuse. Contact Brittnie Noble at the Child Advocacy Center to attend one of the Darkness to Light trainings or bring this child sexual abuse prevention training to your church, school, PTO, sports league, civic group, or business.
For more information on the 19 Days of Activism contact Brittnie Noble at (615) 867-9000 or visit the Women’s World Summit Foundation website at http://www.woman.ch/index.php?page=19daysofactivism.
Darkness to Light Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Trainings:
Date Location
November 6, 2018 Middle Tennessee State University
November 8, 2018 Learning Zone
November 8, 2018 Cannon County S.A.V.E.
November 10, 2018 South East Baptist Church
November 13, 2018 Academy of Gateway
November 15, 2018 Little Miracles Child Care
November 19, 2018 Fellowship United Methodist Church