THE QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY CHILD ABUSE RESPONSE & EVALUATION (CARE) CENTER HELPS PROCLAIM FEBRUARY AS “THE MONTH OF RESPECT”

Character-Counts-Proclamation-2015THE QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY CHILD ABUSE RESPONSE & EVALUATION (CARE) CENTER HELPS PROCLAIM FEBRUARY AS “THE MONTH OF RESPECT” 

The child advocacy center of Queen Anne’s County, the Child Abuse Response and Evaluation (CARE) Center, joined with Character Counts! to proclaim February as the “Pillar of Respect” month. The Queen Anne’s County Commissioners declared February to be the Month of Respect at their recent meeting and were joined by CARE Center partners, including Susan Coppage, Social Services Assistant Director, Cindy Olah, Forensic Interviewer, and Detective Chase Armington from the Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff.

As a Character Counts! community, the Commissioners proclaimed that the CARE Center represents Queen Anne’s County in offering caring, respectful services to child victims of abuse. The CARE Center’s child-centered services focus on an interview process that is respectful of both the child and the law that protects the child’s dignity.

By providing a coordinated, multi-disciplinary response to suspected child maltreatment, CARE Center partners, including Social Services, the Sheriff’s Office, the State’s Attorney’s Office, the Maryland State Police, and the Centreville Police Department, are able to put the child’s needs first.

“The CARE Center is instrumental in streamlining the once lengthy process. The crime of child abuse is so traumatic and dehumanizing to the child; giving them respect is important in assisting them to get their dignity back, which is a priority of the CARE Center,” said State’s Attorney, Lance Richardson.

The Character Counts! program is a national effort to increase character education by offering resources, training, and information about the six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. For the past 13 years in Queen Anne’s County, character coaches have been visiting local classrooms to share lessons on the proclaimed “Pillar of the Month”.

The Queen Anne’s County CARE Center offers an effective, caring response to child abuse through the coordination of agencies that are mandated to investigate, so that the children will get the help they need to live safe, healthy lives. Its multidisciplinary approach to the investigation, prosecution and treatment of serious child abuse includes a team of law enforcement, prosecution, child protective services, medical, mental health and advocacy professionals who work collaboratively in a child friendly environment. For more information, to make a donation, or to volunteer, contact the CARE Center at 410-758-2533 or visit qaccare.org.