Walk in Their Shoes
Getting to the Center
11th Annual Child Abuse Benefit Golf Outing
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Shotgun start at 12:30 p.m.
Spring Lake Country Club, 17496 N Fruitport Rd, Spring Lake, MI 49456
Proceeds will benefit West Michigan ’s Children’s Assessment & Advocacy Centers.
Kent County—Children’s Assessment Center
Muskegon County—Child Abuse Council
Ottawa County—Children’s Advocacy Center
Entry fee ($200/golfer) includes lunch, golf, golf cart, prizes, social hour, and dinner following the event.
Prizes and raffles will be given throughout the day. Social hour and dinner with an auction close the evening.
Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information on sponsoring this great event or to sign up as a golfer, contact Kirstin VanderMolen (616.336.4033).
Registration and Information Brochure
What Made Hannah Cry?
Imagine being sexually assaulted—by someone you trust or even love.
Now imagine that you are 8 years old.
Hannah is 8 and doesn't have to imagine. It happened to her—and 4-year-old Natalie and 7-year-old Anthony. It's enough to make you cry.
Every year over 1,200 child sexual assaults are reported to Kent County law enforcement agencies. Experts agree that is only the tip of the iceberg. Estimates suggest that fewer than 15% of victims of child sexual abuse ever tell anyone. There is no way to know how many children carry the secret and bear the burden of fear and shame.
The Children's Assessment Center protects and assists child victims of suspected sexual assault. We help children and nonoffending family members and guardians find the sunshine after the storm.
In a child-sensitive environment, the CAC's group of highly trained, multidisciplinary professionals provide all of the services needed by a child who may have been sexually abused. Assessment and crisis counselors, a forensic interviewer, a medical team, police detectives, and child protective services are working together in order to begin the healing and reduce the trauma to a child.
Child sexual abuse shouldn't happen, but when it does, the Center is here to open a window to the sunshine and restore a smile to a child.
All services are provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of our donors, law enforcement agencies, United Way, VOCA, and other grant monies.
In addition to services provided to children who may have been sexually abused, the Center provides training and education for parents, mandated reporters (doctors, clergy, teachers, social workers, law enforcement, other professionals), and body-safety programs for children. Our staff will come to your school, church, event, or organization to speak.
Children carrying the awful secrets of sexual abuse are far more likely than others to have difficulty in school and in relationships and more frequently turn to substance abuse and other problem behaviors. They need our promise of help.