Blog
A Survivor’s Story: Elsa Garcia
This past March 2017, we were contacted by Elsa Garcia, previously known as Esther Combs, because as an adult survivor of abuse, she desires to have an impact on her surrounding community. Some of you may know…
April’s Community Spotlight Member
As April is recognized as National Child Abuse Awareness Month, the Child Advocacy Center of Lapeer County would like to recognize the Child Advocacy Center’s Sheriff Department Liaison of the Prevention Program, Deputy White, for all that he has continuously contributed to the Center. In 2010…
What is Forensic Interviewing…and why do we do it?
“Forensic interview” is a big term that really just means “an open-ended conversation with a child that is child-centered and non-leading, about possible traumatic event(s) he or she may have experienced or witnessed” …all in a child-friendly environment. Forensic interviews serve several purposes…
5 Tips for Dealing with Childhood Trauma*
With grief, sadness is obvious. With trauma, the symptoms can go largely unrecognized because it shows up looking like other problems: frustration, acting out, difficulty concentrating, following directions or working in a group. Often students are misdiagnosed with anxiety, behavior disorders or attention disorders, rather than understanding the trauma that’s driving…
Central Michigan University Students Visit CAC Lapeer
Over the weekend of February 25th & 26th, a group of nine college students from Central Michigan University’s Alternative Breaks Program volunteered with us here at the Child Advocacy Center of Lapeer County (CAC Lapeer). They spent ten hours at our…
March’s Community Spotlight Member
The Child Advocacy Center of Lapeer County would like to spotlight Nancy Stimson as March’s Community Spotlight Member. As a former detective/sergeant for the Sheriff’s Department, Nancy Stimson has provided the Lapeer Community with education and safet
Do’s and Do Not’s For When a Child Discloses Abuse
If a child tells you he/she is being inappropriately touched or hurt in any way, most of our first reactions are sheer panic, shock, or maybe some disbelief. This is often followed by a spewing of questions, frantically making sure the child is “okay,” confronting the alleged abuser, etc. It is a natural reaction for…
Will They Remember?: 8 Steps to Work Through Trauma in Counseling
Children who are victims of abuse CAN still live a normal life; they will always remember, but they won’t always be haunted by it; and they won’t necessarily become abusive when they are older. This isn’t to say the healing process is easy or guaranteed, but with the right help they can move past it…
Common Signs of Trauma
Throughout my experience at the Child Advocacy Center, I’ve seen kids and teens experience and show signs of trauma differently, especially depending on their age. A lot of times parents tell me they begin to notice these abnormal behaviors before any disclosure of abuse or trauma is made…
February’s Community Spotlight Member
As many of you know, Lapeer County has an outstanding community filled with many generous, compassionate and hardworking individuals. The community itself embodies the idea of “neighbors helping neighbors; friends helping friends.” This concept is exemplified through the various organizations within the community…
“Is This Sexual Abuse?”
Unfortunately, in today’s society a lot of adults and kids are left confused about the definition and nature of what sexual abuse actually is. There have been a multitude of news stories in the past several months leaving people wondering…
15 Warning Signs of Child Sex Trafficking
In December 2016, January was formally proclaimed as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the United States. As a Child Advocacy Center, we are so encouraged by the impact this declaration has had on our nation, as a whole. Throughout the whole month of January, organizations, non-profits, and individuals across the country took a stand to call attention to this issue within the United States.
Read on to find what you can do to help.
