* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.
          [00:00:05]
          IN THE LATE 1980S, A TASK FORCE WAS FORMED HERE IN JEFFERSON PARISH WITH A SHARED BELIEF. 
          CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCED ABUSE DESERVED A SAFE PLACE TO BE HEARD AND A SYSTEM THAT WORKED FOR THEM, NOT THE CHILD, FOR THE SYSTEM. 
          THAT COMMITMENT LED TO LOUISIANA'S FIRST CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OPENING IN NOVEMBER OF 1991. 
          WE ARE AT THE JOHN MONITIS JEFFERSON CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER HERE IN TARRYTOWN, CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF LOUISIANA'S CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER MOVEMENT. 
          ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD, OUR STAFF AND THE FAMILIES WE'RE SERVED. 
          WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT THIS COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD TO THE JEFFERSON PARISH COUNCIL PASSED AND PRESENT. 
          THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH US. 
          THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER WE'RE THE ONES, UH, THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CHILD PROTECTION. 
          THEY CALL US WHEN THERE IS A SUSPICION OF ABUSE OR IF A REPORT HAS BEEN MADE, CHILDREN WHEN THERE'RE, UM, AN ALLEGATION OF SEXUAL ABUSE, SEVERE PHYSICAL ABUSE, OR IF A CHILD HAS BEEN PRESENT DURING A VIOLENT CRIME AS A WITNESS, THEY WILL BRING THEM TO US FOR THAT INITIAL POINT OF ENTRY, WHICH IS A FORENSIC INTERVIEW. 
          THE MOST DIFFICULT THING I THINK I EVER HAD TO DO WHILE I WAS IN THE DA'S OFFICE WAS TAKE A YOUNG VICTIM, SOME OF 'EM AS, AS YOUNG AS FOUR OR FIVE YEARS OLD INTO A GRAND JURY. 
          TO TEAR THIS, TO TELL THIS AWFUL STORY TO STRANGERS AND THE EFFECT THAT IT WOULD HAVE ON THEM WAS UNBELIEVABLE. 
          IT IS SO IMPERATIVE THAT CHILDREN TALK ABOUT THEIR TRAUMA AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO THESE RECORDINGS OR IN INVESTIGATIVE PROCESSES. 
          AND SO WE'RE ALSO, AFTER THAT FORENSIC INTERVIEW, ABLE TO PROVIDE TRAUMA-INFORMED, TRAUMA-FOCUSED COUNSELING. 
          SINCE OPENING OUR DOORS IN NOVEMBER OF 1991, OVER 9,000 CHILDREN HAVE WALKED THROUGH THOSE DOORS. 
          AS LONG AS WE ARE HERE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT, UM, TO HELP FAMILIES MOVE FORWARD REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THESE CASES SEE THE INSIDE OF A COURTROOM, BECAUSE WE KNOW SO FEW OF THEM ACTUALLY DO. 
          WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE.
* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.