Erin Milam, Executive Director, Children’s Advocacy Center
In 2003, a group of concerned citizens spear-headed a task force made up of representatives from local child-serving agencies in order to address the lack of a coordinated response to investigations into child abuse in Aiken County. All too often, children with the courage to talk about the abuse they had experienced were expected to undergo repeated questioning about the most traumatic event in their lives. Many times they had to tell their story in places that were not child-friendly and were interviewed by persons who were not trained to talk with children. The CAC of Aiken was established to ensure that all the services a child and family needs (medical examinations, forensic interviewing, advocacy support) could occur in one location – a safe, nurturing, child-friendly environment, at no cost to a child’s family.
Since opening with one staff member in 2003, The CAC of Aiken has experienced significant program growth and now employs 7 professionals with wide ranging expertise. The incredible support and generosity of community stakeholders have helped the center achieve great things during its brief history: