New Therapist Needed to Help Sexually Abused Children
JACKSON, Tenn.—Local sexual abuse cases involving children are on the rise. The Exchange/Club Carl Perkins Center for Prevention of Child Abuse wants to hire another therapist to help victims. “One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before they reach the age of 18,” said Child Advocacy Center Director Lisa Schmidt. The statistics speak volumes. “The incidents of child abuse is greater than that of cancer,” said Schmidt. 25 years ago, the Carl Perkins Center said 5-percent of their victims were sexually abused. Today it is 85-percent. “It‘s a very real problem,” said Schmidt, “It‘s very real here in Madison County and it‘s something that we do work with on a daily basis.” The Carl Perkins Center has one trauma therapist on staff. Schmidt said they need another one. “At this point we have to pick the most severe cases to work with,” she said. “We have a waiting list for these children.” Last year the center assisted more than 300 families. The therapist helps victims from the time they walk in the door to testifying in court and prosecution. “We‘re hoping to be able to get more off of that waiting list and be able to see these children more quickly,” said Schmidt. The center said adding another therapist will allow them to help more victims. The Carl Perkins Center will host a golf tournament Monday, April 29 at the Jackson Country Club. Money from the tournament will help pay for the new therapist. For more information on the golf tournament contact Stephanie Isaacs at (731) 668-4000 or sisaacs@carlperkinscenter.org.
