GREENFIELD — Susan Chesbrough knows what it’s like to help a traumatized child, and she shared her experience during the Children’s Advocacy Center’s sixth annual Hope and Healing Breakfast on Friday morning.
Her goddaughter, whom she did not name, was sexually assaulted when she was just 13 by her older sister’s boyfriend, who had gained the young girl’s trust.
“I was introduced to the Children’s Advocacy Center because of this unfortunate event,” Chesbrough told a crowd of more than 200 town, business and social services leaders, as well as legislators, Greenfield mayoral candidates, advocates and educators. “I don’t know where she would have been without the support she received.”
Chesbrough said that support came from the Children’s Advocacy Center, as well as the district attorney’s office, police and courts, to mention a few.
The Children’s Advocacy Center of Franklin County and North Quabbin Inc. is based on the fundamental premise that children have the right to be safe and protected from harm. The nonprofit is dedicated to minimizing secondary trauma to child victims by streamlining the handling of cases of child sexual abuse, serious child physical abuse, and child exploitation. All services are free.
The center focuses on the needs of children and their families, ensuring services are provided, and it reduces the need for children to tell their stories repeatedly by coordinating a single interview to gather the information needed by each member of the team, including police and the district attorney, to successfully investigate allegations of abuse.
Through the Children’s Advocacy Center, children and families are linked to medical, mental health, victim advocacy and other services determined on a case-by-case basis.
Chesbrough said when a child suffers any kind of trauma, there is pain, an array of emotions, sadness, anger.
“It’s not like anything you can imagine,” she said. “Everyone made us feel comfortable.”
Chesbrough said her goddaughter eventually got justice, but the pain of it all “never truly goes away.”
After she told her story, she presented the nonprofit with a check for $1,030 from the local chapter of United Steelworkers (4-880), of which her husband is a member.
Board President Bill Benson told everyone Children’s Advocacy Center’ makes a difference every day, and so do the people who attended the breakfast. Joe Bete, who said the blessing to start the event, said each child is a new miracle, pure and unblemished, and should be loved and cared for, though it is not always the case.
He prayed that we should “make every child safe and rid our world of abuse.”
District Attorney David Sullivan said, “If you need to feel good today, look around,” as he nodded to those in attendance.
“It takes a community to protect, cherish and keep children safe,” he said. “Every child you save, you are saving the world.”
Executive Director Irene Woods said Children’s Advocacy Center will continue to protect children, promote justice and provide healing. She said the nonprofit builds relationships with traumatized and abused children and their families.
Awards were presented to several people: Susan Dillon and Michelle Dwyer received the Community Star Award; Brenda Mozdierz, who has been with the Department of Children and Families, received the Champion of Kids Award; and the Hero of Justice Award went to Dr. Jeremy Aidlen.
Rep. Paul Mark told the crowd that because of Children’s Advocacy Center, there is hope and healing, triumph over some of the worst is society. He said he, Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Sunderland, and Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, are working tirelessly to make sure the center and other advocates for children receive the funding they need.
The Federal Street School Children’s Choir ended the event by singing three pieces.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-0261, ext. 269 or afritz@recorder.com.