Racing against child abuse

File photo: Dawn Westgate [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Kristina Donahue watched the toddler enter the Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection complex one night a week or two ago. He was tiny, quiet and scared. She didn’t know what abusive home situation the investigators had just pulled him out of, but he was young enough she thought he might just want to cower and hide from the strangers looking at him. As she watched him instead go to a staff member and wrap his tiny arms around her in a hug, tears blurred Donahue’s eyes. 

Donahue is the development director of Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection, a child advocacy center started in 1996 that partners with law enforcement and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to provide children a safe and comforting space while processing allegations of abuse or neglect. 

“Essentially our goal is to reduce trauma to children during the investigation and treatment of allegations of physical abuse, sexual abuse, etc.,” said Executive Director Dawn Westgate.

Before Kimberly’s Center came to fruition, a child would have to go through multiple interviews with different organizations before moving to foster care placement. Now, Kimberly’s Center officials interview the child while representatives from law enforcement and/or DCF observe.  

“Our staff are specially trained in how to conduct these interviews for kids,” Westgate said, with methods that are “trauma informed, legally sound and developmentally appropriate and, by us doing it, it reduces the number of times a child has to be interviewed.”

Kids also receive an exam from the center’s medical team to ascertain any physical abuse. 

The next step is to find the child a foster placement and Kimberly’s Center provides kids a safe place in which the child can wait. 

Donahue said center staffers are there around the clock to feed the children, give them clothes and showers if they need them and just make them feel like kids. She said a unit of DCF investigators is in the same building.

“We are the only agency that the DCF will bring children to to receive investigative services,” Donahue said. “Each year we provide services to 1,300 children.” 

Kids can come back to Kimberly’s Center for free counseling as needed. All of the services Kimberly’s Center offers are free for the children and their families, Westgate said. 

File photo: Play area at Kimberly’s Center [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

It is estimated that one in every four children in this country has been abused. Three years ago, Kimberly’s Center went from being an intervention agency to one that also focuses on prevention. The prevention program, revolving around a curriculum called Child Safety Matters, is now in every public school in Marion County and teaches principles of body safety, online dangers and antibullying. 

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Kimberly’s Center, in conjunction with Ocala Police Department victim advocate Crystal Blanton and former detective Stephanie McQuaigh, is holding the 10th annual 5K Race/Walk Against Child Abuse on April 9. The sponsor and host location for the event is Calesa Township, a Colen Built Development at 8075 SW 63rd St., Ocala.

Participants can register at www.kcrace.com, with a $25 fee per adult and $10 per child, under the age of 10. Onsite registration begins at 7 a.m. with the run/walk starting at 8 a.m.

Those who are not walkers or runners can still help raise awareness and support for kids who have been physically or sexually abused or neglected by providing monetary donations, pajamas, diapers and clothing. 

To learn more, go to kimberlyscenter.org