by Dorothy Blackman
Entering the waiting area, one is immediately put at ease. The welcoming colors of yellow, green and beige set off the soft brown carpeting, sofa and chairs to create a welcoming environment.
So does the bright red yacht.
"Let your brother steer now," gently chides a father, while helping his children negotiate the perils of the high seas aboard the pint-sized schooner. "See, isn't it more fun when we take turns?"
Some might be surprised at such unorthodox accoutrements. But this is no ordinary place - this is the Fort Worth home of Alliance for Children.
Since 1992, Alliance for Children has served Tarrant County by providing help and resources to more than 40,000 children who are victims of abuse or neglect with a three-pronged approach: investigation, healing and community education. Alliance for Children is the only Tarrant County advocacy center and works directly with Child Protective Services, Cook Children's Medical Center, local police and the District Attorney's Office to assist children determined to be in abusive situations.
"We work closely with law enforcement," said founding director Nancy Hagan. "They do investigations as to whether a certain situation is a safe environment for the child."
Hagan was the driving force behind AFC, which provides teamed investigations and healing services to victims and their families. In addition, AFC offers educational programs for community organizations as well as participates in state and national initiatives designed to stem the tide of child abuse.
"Tarrant County is very good about collaborating on child abuse cases," Hagan said. "They recognize that we have to work together to deal with the problem."
Alana Minton is the chief prosecutor with the Crimes Against Children Unit at the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office. Working in tandem with AFC, she sees first-hand the positive impact the inter-agency collaboration has on children.
"Kids are able to heal and perpetrators are properly punished. Our community is a better place every day because of the work [AFC] does," she said. "By ensuring the cooperation between numerous agencies, the Alliance for Children helps thousands of children when they have been abused."
Once a determination of abuse is made, the child advocacy center will step in to provide counseling and individual therapy for children and their families. Offerings include 25 group and individual counseling sessions per week in classes including abuse prevention, Internet awareness, cognitive behavioral therapy and pet therapy, a favorite among youngsters looking for the companionship and affection dogs and other animals can provide.
"Mary"s" [her true name is being withheld] story is one such case. In 2011, Mary sought help from Alliance for Children when her then 10-year-old daughter revealed she was being sexually abused by a relative.
"We never thought a family member could have done this," said Mary.
Alliance for Children provided counseling and support for her daughter, her husband and her, helping them begin the healing process.
"Alliance for Children helped us put it all back together," she said. "My daughter is recovering, and she is going to be OK."
"Children are resilient and while [sexual] abuse is part of their lives, they are not defined by it," Hagan said.
