Worthy Causes: Justice, Hope and Healing

by Karen Gibbs

She was only 12 when he raped her, a child trembling and afraid. “Tell anyone and I’ll kill you,” he threatened, smugly confident he could bully her into secrecy. Consumed with guilt and fear, she kept silent. With one act, he’d robbed her of her innocence. With another, he’d stolen her future. Until she went to Hope House. Now, she’s healing—and he’s serving time.

Covington’s Hope House is a white cottage, complete with picket fence, flower-lined walkway and a fat gray cat lazing on the front porch. Its idyllic appearance belies the seriousness of its mission—to provide a safe, welcoming place where abused children, or children who have witnessed violent crimes, can tell their stories.

Close to 300 children come to Hope House each year, their world torn apart by violence. Without this haven, a child would have to face the additional trauma of telling painful details of abuse again and again—sometimes as many as 20 times, according to Hope House forensic interviewer JoBeth Rickels.

To prevent this, the Children’s Advocacy Center was established on the northshore in 1995. In 1999, Hope House opened its doors, a not-for-profit facility designed to provide a cozy, home-like environment for interviewing and counseling —complete with toys, TV, games and comfortable furniture. Specially trained interviewers converse with children in a room equipped with closed-circuit TV cameras that both record the interview and relay it to a viewing room. Here, police listen and, if needed, use walkie-talkies to ask questions of the interviewer, who wears an ear-bud. Law enforcement and court officials then use tapes and DVDs of the interview to proceed with the case.

Walter Reed, St. Tammany district attorney, has the highest praise for Hope House. “They complement our work beautifully,” he begins. “Because of their specially trained staff, Hope House obtains forensic interviews that stand up in court and greatly assist in gaining convictions.” He adds, “Most importantly, these children who have been hurt so much already are spared having to tell their story over and over again.”

Thanks to keen observation, forensic interviewers at Hope House interpret cues in speech, tone of voice and body movement that guide their questioning. But no interview takes place until the child feels comfortable, and this usually takes time. Interviewer Bethany Case recalls one young boy who literally bounced off the walls when he first entered the interview room. He finally settled into an overstuffed armchair, where he did a headstand. “He felt comfortable talking in that position and gave the entire interview standing on his head,” she says with a smile.

The interview is just the first step toward healing for an abused child and the family. According to Debe Jones, victim’s advocate and office manager, “Sexual abuse often decimates a family and leaves the caregivers lost in a sea of legal and emotional uncertainty. With counseling and an explanation of the legal process, family members learn how to provide the support and comfort the child needs.”

Therapists Beverley Connor and Lori Forte, along with play therapist Dr. Barbara Hebert, have the tough job of helping the child heal. Their goal in counseling, says executive director Dorothy Garcia, is to give the children coping skills so they feel like survivors and not victims. “There’s strength in peer support, even at the three- and four-year-old level,” says Dorothy. “In a group setting with other children their age, they see that it is possible to go on after being abused.” Sometimes Hope House recommends that younger children return to counseling at puberty to assure a normal transition into adulthood.

The counselors also prepare children for their court appearance, taking them to visit a courtroom in the nearby Justice Center. There they familiarize the children with what will transpire and explain the meaning of courtroom jargon, making the court experience less intimidating.

“Ultimately, we at Hope House would like to put ourselves out of business,” Dorothy admits. To this end, they advocate that all adults be trained in child abuse prevention to protect our children—the universal “children” who look to adults to keep them from harm. Through Darkness to Light, a national organization, CAC offers a 2.5-hour, $15 course in which adults are educated to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. For more information, see darkness2light.org. Call Hope House at 985-892-3885 to schedule a local training class.