RVCAC News!
RVCAC Joins CART (Child Abduction Response Team)
ACT 931 passed in 2019 and CART became official in the state of Arkansas. CARTs are a multi-agency, often multi-jurisdictional composite of community professionals who are trained and equipped to respond in the search and recovery of an abducted or endangered child. The goal is to ensure a rapid and comprehensive community response to a child abduction. The CART strategy incorporates three elements: trained individuals with established roles and assignments, a ready-made list of equipment that is available to aid in the search, and a network of non traditional community resources the team can tap into to assist in the investigation. Like AMBER Alert, CART is a useful tool that agencies can employ in an abduction incident or in situations where a child is missing and believed to be in danger. Arkansas is the first state in the nation to have twelve certified teams stateside. The certification took three years and the cooperation of over a hundred state agencies. The CART model for Arkansas is currently being implemented by other states.
River Valley Food 4 Kids
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We want to give a big shout out to Josh Dunbar, RVF4K Executive Director! Josh not only has a heart to eliminate hunger in the River Valley, but to also collaborate with local nonprofits so we can all better serve the community together. He has offered to help provide snacks and quick meals for us to have in stock at the CAC. Sometimes Forensic Interviews, Medicals, and Investigator's meeting with the families can lead to a long time spent at the CAC, especially when there are multiple children in the home that need to be interviewed. It is such a blessing to be able to have snacks and quick meals that we can provide for children while they are here. No matter how old you are, food and snacks are comforting and a way to show our clients that they are cared for. ❤️
Thank you River Valley Food 4 Kids, not only for your contribution, but for what you already do for our community!!! |
Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation
In the month of April 2022, mayors in our surrounding communities signed a proclamation naming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. City counsels who participated were Russellville, Lamar, Pottsville, Dardanelle, and Clarksville. Thank you to everyone who came to support and thank you to our community leaders who prioritize our children’s safety!
Thank you Sarah!
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It is bittersweet for us to bid Sarah Lasiter (Prevention and Education Coordinator) farewell as she embarks on a new journey in her career!
Sarah may have started out as an intern, but she soon grew to be an amazing team member of the RVCAC. In the short time Sarah was here, she was able to help establish our Prevention and Education Program, leaving a strong foundation for the future of our program. She built relationships with the area schools which opened the door to over 4,000 students and teachers receiving mandated reporter training and programs in child abuse prevention and education (mostly presented by Sarah). She was also able to begin our April Child Abuse Prevetion Campaign which included yard signs being supported through Pope, Johnson, and Yell counties and funds raised to serve our clients. Sarah has also conducted approximately 60 Forensic Interviews. “I am eternally grateful for both the staff and mission of RVCAC. From day 1, I knew it was a special place. I will forever cherish the memories and work I was able to accomplish with RVCAC. Leaving was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made, but the support I received from them to chase my goals is something I will never take for granted! I hope to continue to volunteer for years to come!!” -Sarah |
Welcoming our newest team member!
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We are so excited to announce our newest team member, Haleigh Austin as Child Abuse Education Specialist. She will be providing mandated reporter training to school staff and other child serving workers as well as presenting child abuse education and prevention programs to students in our local schools! Haleigh will also begin training to do Forensic Interviews and head our Child Abuse Awareness Campaigns.
Haleigh has a bachelor's degree in Rehabilitation Science with a minor in Disability Studies from Arkansas Tech University. She is currently working on getting her master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling with an emphasis in mental health. Haleigh has 3 years of experience working with children as a Lead Teacher at a local daycare as well as interning and on-going volunteer work serving individuals recovering from substance abuse. |
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Fitz Receives his 180 Hours of Training CertificateThank you Lucas Bishop with KamoK9 for providing training for our Fitz so that he can assist our families dealing with trauma and help us provide the most comfortable and supportive atmosphere possible!
Fitz satisfactorily completed the studies prescribed, therefore certifying 180 hours of Facility K9 Service Work! |
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Russellville PetSmart Sponsors Fitz!Huge shoutout to Russellville Petsmart for supporting the vision of RVCAC and sponsoring 1 bag of dog food a month as well as treats, and donated a kennel for Fitz!
Petsmart has also partnered with us by donating bags of stuffed animals to give to our clients when they leave the center! With each toy we give out, a child’s face lights up! Thank you for your ongoing support PetSmart!!! |
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We have another great, big shoutout to Parkway Animal Hospital and Bark About It of Dardanelle!
Parkway Animal Hospital donates Fitz’s medical care pro bono. This includes shots, and regular checkups and flea and tick pills. We are so thankful for the care they give Fitz and the support they have for the CAC!
Bark About It of Dardanelle is also supportive of our mission and of what Fitz adds to our center. They have donated grooming services to keep Fitz clean and looking his best! We can’t thank you enough!
Parkway Animal Hospital donates Fitz’s medical care pro bono. This includes shots, and regular checkups and flea and tick pills. We are so thankful for the care they give Fitz and the support they have for the CAC!
Bark About It of Dardanelle is also supportive of our mission and of what Fitz adds to our center. They have donated grooming services to keep Fitz clean and looking his best! We can’t thank you enough!
Medical Unit Up and Running!
Our Medical Unit has been in use for patients and exams to take place! Providing medicals is a major component of a Child Advocacy Center and now we are able to provide local, non-invasive exams and care for our clients with trained Sexual Assault Examination Nurses.
Play Area
Thanks to our TANF grant, we are able to provide a place where our children can relax and play when they have a long wait time here at the RVCAC. Our hearts are to make their time of telling traumatic events as easy and stress free as possible!
Arkansas Woman of Inspiration
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Children's Advocacy Centers of Arkansas is excited to announce Mrs. Gene Jones as the 2021 Arkansas Woman of Inspiration!
The guiding influence behind one of the most prominent and visible families in the southwest, Gene Jones, originally from Danville, AR, has spent a lifetime in the pursuit of helping others. While her husband, Jerry Jones, has left his mark on the athletic world as one of the nation’s most highly successful sports franchise owners, Gene Jones has displayed the same type of drive and ambition in the area of the development of AT&T Stadium and her community involvement. |
The Woman of Inspiration dinner represents CACAR’s largest fundraising event, which honors a woman who has devoted significant time to improving the lives of children.
Event proceeds support 17 Child Advocacy Center (CAC) locations across Arkansas that provide free services to abused and neglected children statewide. In 2020, more than 10,000 children were served by CACs.
The Women of Inspiration fundraiser was kicked off with a Patron Party on Septempter 16, at the governor’s mansion (far right photo).
Event proceeds support 17 Child Advocacy Center (CAC) locations across Arkansas that provide free services to abused and neglected children statewide. In 2020, more than 10,000 children were served by CACs.
The Women of Inspiration fundraiser was kicked off with a Patron Party on Septempter 16, at the governor’s mansion (far right photo).
Adopt a Highway!
The River Valley Child Advocacy Center staff, board members and community partners participated in Arkansas Adopt A Mile! Thanks to all who come and help every time we have a clean up!! Marilyn Sanders, Brittney Reed, Sarah Lasiter, Stephanie Carter, Amy Gray, Nickie Johnson, Marti Wilkerson, Barton Allen, Dwayne Webb, Faith Sanders, Heather Patton, Rick Casey and of course our wonderful Fitz pictured above!
And thanks to Clarksville Chamber for facilitating this event!
And thanks to Clarksville Chamber for facilitating this event!
On Site Counseling Available!
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Jett Black: Facility Cat
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Through a CAC, children can have access to counseling without any charge to the family!
Our counselors use Trauma Focused Therapy, an evidence based practice used to assist youth in better understanding coping with, processing emotions and memories tied to traumatic experiences.
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River Valley CAC
2206 Red Hill Lane Russellville, AR 72802 497-498-4747 Executive Director: Marilyn Sanders Email: Marilyn@rivervalleycac.com |
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The River Valley CAC is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that was founded in 2017.
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