April is Child Abuse Awareness Month and there is a growing need for Child Advocates.
A child advocate works with a non-profit agency in concert with law enforcement to act as an advocate for children caught in the middle of abuse investigations. Rosa Rushing is a Child Advocate with Braveheart Children's Advocacy Center in Central Illinois and she says that part of the challenge in recruiting new Child Advocates is the emotional toll of the job. Many, many victims don't want to tell their story.
Braveheart has expanded services throughout 3 central Illinois Counties while similar non-profit CAC's are also struggling to recruit advocates across the state.