Southern Arizona Childrens Advocacy Center Inc

Katelyn came to the Southern Arizona Children’s Advocacy Center because her best friend told a secret.  It was a secret Katelyn kept for 4 years, which is half your life when you’re only 8 years old.  Katelyn finally told her secret to her new friend as they planned a sleep over- she did not want bad things to happen to her friend.  Katelyn hoped that if they both stayed awake all night, maybe he wouldn’t come into the room and hurt them.  Maybe this one night she would be safe.

Katelyn sat quietly in the playroom petting Russell, the Center’s Courthouse Dog and 70 pounds of unconditional love in the form of a golden retriever.  Child Protective Services picked her up from school and brought her to the Center to be interviewed and examined by medical staff.  Katelyn would be given a chance, finally, to tell someone about her abuse; and the physical evidence needed to prosecute her offender would be documented, collected and preserved.

As Katelyn was comforted by Russell and our advocates, the investigative staff (detectives, Child Protective Services workers and one of the Center’s forensic interviewers) met to discuss the case.  They want to ensure they get all the information needed to keep Katelyn safe and to bring her abuser to justice in one interview- multiple interviews would re-traumatize this vulnerable child.

In a cozy, private room equipped with video- taping equipment, the Center’s interviewer uses an interview technique that encourages Katelyn to describe in detail the abuse she has endured over the past 4 years. The interview is conducted without using leading questions or suggestive dialog.  A medical exam conducted at the Center in a comfortable, brightly decorated room reveals evidence of intercourse that occurred within the past 24 hours.

As Katelyn is cared for, our victim advocates meet with her mother to help her deal with the reality that her daughter has been sexually assaulted and the man she trusted did it. Is my daughter going to be okay? How could I let this happen? Where will we live now? What will happen to us?  Katelyn’s mother is given the resources she needs to help Katelyn and her family move forward, out of the abuse and into recovery.

Katelyn is one of the lucky ones.  She has a mother who is willing to protect her and get her the help she needs.  Some children are not so fortunate.  They have parents who either cannot or will not protect them.  Like the ten year old girl who was brought to the Center because her parents kept her in a dog crate and fed her dog food.  As we were packing a bag of personnel items for her to take to foster care, she whispered in my ear “Can I just stay here? It’s really beautiful here and I promise to keep the toys picked up. The people here are very nice and I like it here.”

When Katelyn went to court she sat in the witness chair, faced her abuser, and bravely told their secrets. She had a special ally in the room, the same 70 pounds of gentle companionship that met her in the playroom when her journey started. She was the one in control now, his fate in her hands.

This story has as happy an ending as these stories can: the abuser went to prison.  Katelyn and her family continue to heal and try to find “normal”. And, with your help, the staff of the Southern Arizona Children’s Advocacy Center turns their attention to the next child.