The Child Advocacy Center, which provides forensic interviews and family support for suspected child-abuse victims, asked the La Vergne Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Oct. 30 to consider municipal support for a new facility to replace its cramped, 1,800-square-foot office.

Sharon DeBoer, founding director of the Child Advocacy Center, told the board the center was one of the first municipal partners when it opened and that local law enforcement and the district attorney rely on the CAC’s forensic interviews to reduce trauma and to make evidence usable in court. "The forensic interview is an absolutely foundational part of my office's success in prosecuting those cases," District Attorney Jennings Jones said during the presentation.

The CAC said it has roughly $2,000,000 in gifts and pledges to date and that Smyrna Ready Mix has pledged $250,000, raising the total to about $2,250,000. Rutherford County officials have designated a $1,000,000 allocation conditional on demonstration of progress and municipal support, the presenters said. Retired district attorney Bill Whiteson, co-chair of the capital campaign, outlined a recently identified building for purchase and said additional funds will be needed for renovation after acquisition.

CAC staff described the services they provide: bilingual forensic interviews, family services coordination, arranging forensic medical exams, counseling referrals and advocacy. Christina Moody and Jennifer Head of the Tennessee Department of Children's Services explained that referrals flow through the state child-abuse hotline to county jurisdiction and that the county's multidisciplinary team (police, DA, CAC, medical providers, and DCS) meets monthly to make joint decisions about investigation, prosecution and services.

Board members asked how a municipal contribution would be handled. Staff said any city appropriation this late in the fiscal year would likely require coordination with finance and possibly a budget amendment; alternatively, the city could pledge funds in the next fiscal year's budget. "If there's any way we can do anything, I feel like we certainly will," one alderman said, while noting the city would need to work through finance procedures.

No vote or formal pledge was taken at the workshop; the CAC's request was for the board to consider municipal support as the capital campaign proceeds. The CAC representatives offered to provide additional documentation and are seeking commitments from the county’s municipalities to qualify for the county-designated conditional funds.

Provenance: Transcript presentation by Sharon DeBoer beginning 00:03:26; supporting remarks and financial figures from Bill Whiteson and Sharon DeBoer, 00:14:28 to 00:25:47.