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Trudy
Hughes, M.Ed., Executive
Director
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Trudy
Hughes has 20+ years experience in social services, juvenile justice
and program development with children and families.
Her work has included administration and management
as well as direct services provision.
She became interested in this field through her
volunteer work with behaviorally and mentally challenged adolescent
boys. Then employed
in the banking industry, her commitment to advocacy and service to
children led to a change in long-term career goals. Ms.
Hughes holds degrees in Finance, Human Services and Community
Counseling, all from Service
to the community is a life-long commitment of Ms. Hughes’, evidenced by
her work with numerous child advocacy and civic organizations. She currently serves as
Commissioner with the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth
(appointed by Governor Phil Bredesen) and is Past-President of the
Tennessee Chapter of Child Advocacy Centers.
She is a past Chair of the Hamilton County Child
Abuse Prevention Council as well as an honorary member of the National
Exchange Club. Other
prior service includes Grantsmanship Chair for the Junior League of
Chattanooga and past President of the Southeast Tennessee Council on
Children and Youth. Working
in the “Count Me In Census 2000 campaign” is yet another example of Ms.
Hughes work on behalf of her community.
A graduate of both the 2004 Leadership Blount class
and 1998 Leadership Sharing
with others in their growth and development is also important to Ms.
Hughes. A frequent
guest speaker at numerous seminars/conferences, she has also served as
adjunct faculty with the Psychology Department at Maryville College,
the Human Ecology Department, College of Education and Applied
Professional Studies at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the
Early Childhood Education Department at Chattanooga State Technical
Community College and the Human Services Department at Cleveland State
Community College. |
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Tabitha Damron, LCSW
Clinical Director  |
Tabitha
Damron, a native of Tabitha also is a member of the Child Protective Investigative Team and provides consultation on cases reviewed by the team. She has been working with sexually abused children for the past 6 years and has received extensive training in the area of sexual abuse and trauma. Tabitha provides individual counseling and also works with parents on how to understand and cope with their child’s behaviors. Therapeutic models utilized for treatment include Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Play Therapy for use with younger children. |
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Jennifer
Morgan Child
& Family Advocate Volunteer
Coordinator |
Following an internship with As the Child and Family Advocate, she works with the
children and their non-offending families to connect them with resources and
services in the community, offer support group, help with victim’s compensation,
inform them of their rights and responsibilities in the investigation process,
and sometimes just be an ear to listen. Jen says, “It is truly rewarding to see
these families through the whole process. They come to our center in need of
support and recovery, and that is certainly what they get. There is a light at
the end of the dark tunnel they are in, and it feels good to be a part of
getting them through to the other side.” Beyond her advocate role, Jen also is responsible for
recruiting, training, and supervising volunteers. “We have so many warm and
caring people that want to share their time and talents to help the kids and our
center. How wonderful it is to come in and work with these individuals
everyday!” If you are interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer,
please contact Jen at jenm@blountkids.org. |
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Christina
Copland comes to When
an occurrence of sexual abuse is reported, the forensic interviewer is
the first person to talk with the victim about the alleged incident. In a neutral manner, Tina
talks with the child in a child- friendly setting about their life and
things that may have happened in their life. |
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Administrative
Assistant |
Sandi
could be noted as a “Jill of all Trades” with organization and
multitasking abilities. Being a support person for others at the
center, sometimes her duties are as simple as rocking a crying baby to
sleep, supervising children in the playroom and making pots of
mac’n’cheese for hungry kids. The
normal duties of an administrative assistant are combined with updating
accurate information into several programs vital to the center. A
national database called NCAtrak, follows the information concerning
the child abuse victims and the alleged perps from the initial abuse,
medical exam, investigation, counseling, and prosecution. Maintaining an accurate
accounting of in-kind donations and mailing list information is very
important for the public support of this much needed facility. Photography
has been a passion since childhood. Computers, scanners, digital
cameras and graphics have advanced this creativity into being able to
design flyers, certificates, handouts, cards and signs for the many
varied fund raisers and educational venues that we are involved in. From this background, she
has added in her continued learning, the ability to update this website
as part of her professional duties at the center. |
**Upcoming
Events**