In the wake of a child sex abuse story that broke in Gainesville last week, a local nonprofit that helps sex abuse victims is reminding the public of its services.
The Children's Center for Hope and Healing serves 13 north Georgia counties with trauma therapy, at no cost, for children, adolescents and adult victims of sex abuse and assault.
"The community, even though we've been around for a long time, doesn't really know about us and does not know at all that we serve adults. So we feel like we need to bring this to the forefront," center director of development Cindy Wilson said.
In 2009, the center began service women and has since expanded the program to include men. Wilson said men are the most underserved population among sex abuse victims. She said victims, across all groups, suffer from shame, making it difficult for them to disclose abuse.
"A lot of times when men are abused it's by other men, so that increases that shame factor threefold," Wilson said.
Last year, she said the center served over 2000 clients and their families. While that number may seem sobering, it actually comes with some context.
"While that's a lot, a large number, abuse is actually on the decline, but the reporting of it is on the rise because the community has become more aware," Wilson said.
The center has made the process easy to begin. Wilson said their website has a referral button that takes people through the initial process.
"These clients have been through enough already, we don't want to make it any harder for them," Wilson said.
Center therapists strive to help clients transition from victim to survivor, "decreasing their sense of social isolation, increasing their sense of self-worth and value, increasing their sense of hope and increasing their survival skills," a release from the center states.
More information on the Children's Center for Hope and Healing:
(770) 532-6530
online
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/3/380346/childrens-center-for-hope-and-healing-reminds-community-of-its-mission-services