The Children's Advocacy Center of Benton County is seeing a spike in the number of child abuse cases.
Director of Development Emily Rappe says the center saw an average of 45 cases each month in 2001, but caseworkers handled 70 in April of this year, and they started working on 46 more in the first ten days of May.
Emilly Rappe says she's seen some terrible things since she started working for the center in November, but she wasn't prepared for the latest numbers.
"Keep in mind, a case can be one child or could be four," Rappe says. "Choking, black eyes, broken arms, broken legs burns.... It makes me really sad that that much abuse is going on in our community."
The center isn't sure why the numbers have spiked, but Rappe hopes it is an increase in awareness, rather than actual abuse.
"There's just more reports going on about child abuse," she says. "I think people feel more comfortable calling in to the hot-line and letting us know what's going on."
Rappe says the center needs more room to serve the kids.
"We don't have the room to put new counselors, nor the funds to pay for thier salaries," she says.
Kathy Farrell and her husband are helping to change that. They provided $25,000 and a contractor to add some offices and therapy rooms to the center.
"They say when you get a little older you give back," she says. "That's where my husband and I are at."
Farrell says she can't think of any better use for her time or money...
"Think about the tragedies that they're involved in day in and day out," she says. "Children are so vulnerable and they have no choice in what their situations are if somebody doesnt' help them."
Rappe says those tragedies offer powerful motivation.
"When I see those kids and the things that are done to them it makes me mad and it just makes me want to do my job even better," she says.
The center is also trying to raise money to pay for additional therapists and counselors to help with the caseload. If you would like to help visit their website.
Director of Development Emily Rappe says the center saw an average of 45 cases each month in 2001, but caseworkers handled 70 in April of this year, and they started working on 46 more in the first ten days of May.
Emilly Rappe says she's seen some terrible things since she started working for the center in November, but she wasn't prepared for the latest numbers.
"Keep in mind, a case can be one child or could be four," Rappe says. "Choking, black eyes, broken arms, broken legs burns.... It makes me really sad that that much abuse is going on in our community."
The center isn't sure why the numbers have spiked, but Rappe hopes it is an increase in awareness, rather than actual abuse.
"There's just more reports going on about child abuse," she says. "I think people feel more comfortable calling in to the hot-line and letting us know what's going on."
Rappe says the center needs more room to serve the kids.
"We don't have the room to put new counselors, nor the funds to pay for thier salaries," she says.
Kathy Farrell and her husband are helping to change that. They provided $25,000 and a contractor to add some offices and therapy rooms to the center.
"They say when you get a little older you give back," she says. "That's where my husband and I are at."
Farrell says she can't think of any better use for her time or money...
"Think about the tragedies that they're involved in day in and day out," she says. "Children are so vulnerable and they have no choice in what their situations are if somebody doesnt' help them."
Rappe says those tragedies offer powerful motivation.
"When I see those kids and the things that are done to them it makes me mad and it just makes me want to do my job even better," she says.
The center is also trying to raise money to pay for additional therapists and counselors to help with the caseload. If you would like to help visit their website.
