By Dawn Rochelle, MSW, LCSW
One Place, Chief Executive Officer
Every single child in North Carolina is filled with tremendous promise – and all North Carolinians have a shared obligation to foster their potential. One child hurt is not acceptable.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the team at One Place wants to acknowledge and thank the people and organizations in the southern portions of Onslow County who are full-fledged participants in this important battle
It is a difficult challenge. Headlines about physical assault, sexual abuse, horrible neglect and heartbreaking fatalities serve as troubling reminders that the problems related to the maltreatment of children are not going away despite constant and ongoing efforts.
Our county is blessed to have strong partnerships comprised of government agencies, non-profit organizations, private business and individuals aligned against the plagues of abuse and neglect. They have embraced the challenge of making Onslow and its neighborhoods safe and supportive places for children to grow. We feel it is important to recognize the importance that the communities of Holly Ridge, Sneads Ferry and Topsail Island have in this battle.
At One Place, we are proud to be a part of the efforts that support the development of children and oppose abuse and neglect. For nearly 25 years, One Place has worked to construct a circle of defense as well as build a nurturing foundation for positive childhoods.
One Place’s Child Advocacy Center is a hub for those who respond to specific incidents of abuse. At the CAC, restoring hope and providing healing for child victims is the priority. A critical role in that mission is filled by the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), which operates under the CAC’s umbrella. The MDT is comprised of representatives from every law-enforcement agency in Onslow County, as well as members involved in prosecution, mental health, child advocacy, medicine, childprotective services and other disciplines.
We appreciate the efforts of all the people in the Topsail and Holly Ridge areas who have stepped up in this fight. It’s not going to end anytime soon, so we ask everyone to consider joining up to end child abuse and neglect. Learn how you can get involved with child abuse prevention and intervention in Onslow County by visiting www.oneplaceonslow.org/get-involved/