The Daily News

COVINGTON - Three million reports of child abuse are made every year in the United States, and experts estimate that the actual number of incidents of abuse and neglect could be nine times greater than reported, because victims are often too intimidated to speak up.

The Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) Hope House, which serves young victims of abuse from Washington and St. Tammany parishes, sees about 300 children, aged 3 to 16, a year. Nearly half of them are 8 years old or younger.

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Multiply that by nine and it's evident that, even locally, the problem is staggering, said Executive Director Dorothy Garcia.

"The national statistic is that one of every four girls and one of every six boys is sexually assaulted by the time they are 18," she said. "It is believed that the number is really the same, but boys don't report as often. That means one quarter of our population under 18 is being sexually assaulted."

The CAC works to be the voice of justice, hope and healing for local victims.

It was established to coordinate and expedite the investigation, prosecution, and delivery of treatment services in cases of child sexual abuse and serious physical abuse, while ensuring that victims receive effective and immediate support. The CAC works to lessen the trauma of sexually and physically abused children as they recover from their ordeals and as justice is sought against their abusers.

That starts within the comfortable, home-like setting of Hope House in Covington, a "safe, secure" environment where abused children can recount their stories one time on tape so they don't have to be repeatedly questioned by various investigative agencies.

The victims, who are referred by law enforcement or child protective agencies or the district attorney's office, meet with trained forensic interviewers in a room with overstuffed chairs, teddy bears and hand-painted walls. They are informed that their stories will be recorded, but the cameras and microphone are inconspicuously mounted on the ceiling and under toy-laden shelves.

Representatives of law enforcement, child protective services and other involved agencies observe from a monitor in another room, and can ask additional questions, via the interviewer, if necessary.

"The children give us their problems, so they can go back to being children again," said Garcia. "It's not easy. I know their lives are going to be difficult. But we offer a path to hope."

It's important that the children understand the abuse was not their fault, she said. At any rate, recovery is a long process.

"I feel the children who walk through this door are true heroes," said Garcia. "We tell them, 'Don't let this define you. You're not a victim forever. You're a survivor.'"

The CAC also offers support and advocacy services to child victims and non-offending family members, and coordinates multi-disciplinary team meetings as the investigations continue.

Victim services, including counseling, are offered free of charge.

"Our main goal is to create a warm and caring environment where the healing process can begin for these children and their caregivers," said Garcia.

Research indicates that child advocacy centers not only reduce the number of child abuse interviews per victim, but also improve collaboration among agencies, increase prosecution and conviction rates, and result in fewer foster care placements for children.

Hope House opened in 1995, and while the numbers are pretty steady, one thing has remained consistent, said Garcia.

"More than 95 percent of these children know their abusers," she said. "So besides the loss of innocence there is a real loss of trust. We try to put all the pieces of their hearts and souls together again, to redefine what love is and to redefine a lot of the values in their lives."

Debbie Jones, whose Hope House duties include those of family advocate, said abuse is "the last thing people expect."

"But it happens, and it happens to good people," she said.

Now predators are even using the Internet to reach victims. Parents are urged to stay watchful. The CAC offers a prevention program for only the cost of the workbook.

For additional information, call 892-3885 or visit www.cachopehouse.org.