Dear Friend,

Imagine the fear, loneliness and shame in the thoughts of a child who has been abused. Such a confused storm of feelings of betrayal, vulnerability, anger, guilt, and uncertainty are overwhelming to a young child. And then when the truth finally finds its way out, to a parent, a teacher or a trusted adult, the child is told he will have to tell it again ... to the police.

When he has made it through that, he then is told he has to tell it again to a child protection (DYFS) worker ... and again to a doctor at the hospital ... and again to a mental health professional ... and again to additional law enforcement officers. And all of this after traveling to different places all over the county, waiting in different unfriendly rooms, and being questioned by one stranger after another, well into the night.

One place, one team, one coordinated response for these innocent victims is the vision. Take a moment and be that child. What you long for and need is one safe child-friendly place where you will be listened to, where your story will be heard, and where the best state-of-the-art equipment, facility, and people will know what to do to help you. You need to be safe, your story needs to be safe, and you desperately need to start healing your wounds.

The Friends of the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center, Inc. was formed in 2003. It is comprised of a combination of professionals working together to care for the mental health needs of the children, to minimize the trauma of both abuse as well as the necessary investigation. The goal is to build this center as quickly as possible. Many county agencies and community businesses are helping but we need you too. The first stage is underway on Kozloski Road in Freehold Township.

To make this center a reality, the Friends of the MCCAC need your help, because more than 3,000 reports that start out like the story above are received every year in Monmouth County. More than 700 rise to the level of prosecution. These crimes are not restricted to any socioeconomic, ethnic or educational levels - they are in fact found in every community in our county.

The children who heroically face the truth of what has been done to them, or who just want to be safe or try to start over, need your help, because they can't write letters like this, and raise funds, or start programs, and build buildings. That's what we are for. Please join us, because all children deserve a safe place.

Sincerely,
Dr. Martin Krupnick, Psy.,D., Chair
Friends of the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center, Inc.

P.S. We need your help. This is your chance to speak out for the kids who can't speak out for themselves.