The Children’s Place named Pell City Chamber Business of the Month

Published 12:08 pm Thursday, September 13, 2018

The Children’s Place, St. Clair County Children’s Advocacy Center, received the Business of the Month award from the Pell City Chamber of Commerce for September.

“They do excellent work that might not always be recognized until someone needs them,” said Pell City Chamber of Commerce President Brandon Turner.

The Children’s Place St. Clair Children Advocacy Center has served survivors of child abuse and their families since 1992 through prevention programs in Pell City and St. Clair County Schools, counseling for survivors of child abuse and their families, forensic interviews in abuse investigations, as well as providing court mandated classes for couples divorcing in St. Clair County.

While the non-profit group is instrumental in support and a needed resource for children who have been abused, they also focus on prevention. Since inception in 1992, the prevention curriculum has grown to include all classrooms from grades kindergarten-eighth within St. Clair County and Pell City School Systems, encompassing over 7641 students in 2017.

Cheryl Fagan, Prevention Specialist with The Children’s Place, said the program is very effective, teaching age appropriate lessons to each grade from kindergarten through eighth. Subjects such as taking care of yourself, being aware of your surroundings, building self-esteem and “How to say no,” are all part of the curriculum.

“The school counselors in the system are wonderful,” Fagan said. “They really help us with the students and getting everything scheduled.”

According to a study by the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there were 686,000 child maltreatment victims or 9.2 per 1,000 children in 2012. Of those children, 78.3 percent of child maltreatment victims experienced neglect, 18.3 percent were physically abused, 9.3 percent were sexually abused, 8.5 percent were psychologically maltreated, and 2.3 percent were medically neglected. In addition, 10.6 percent of child victims experienced other types of maltreatment. Children that are victims of more than one type of maltreatment, or polyvictimization, showed increased levels of distress, such as anxiety, depression, anger, and PTSD. 

“Teachers have to do more than just teach,” said Fagan. “They go through mandatory child abuse training to make them aware of the signs in students that may be suffering abuse.”

For more information about supporting The Children’s Place contact 205-338-8847.