Community Spotlight: Dawson Place
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, so Beresford Booth would like to take a moment to shed a community spotlight on the great work of Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center in Everett.
Background
In 1984, an Alabama District Attorney met with a young girl who was a victim of child abuse. The prosecutor asked her countless questions. Having already been interviewed by many other professional agencies – multiple times – answering similar questions, the young girl finally asked, “Don’t you people talk to each other?”
Starting in Alabama, a simple, pointed question asked by an innocent young girl changed the course of care and treatment for other child victims of physical and sexual abuse worldwide. A child advocacy center was created that inspired then local Snohomish County Prosecutor Seth Dawson to bring that same level of careful treatment to his community. It took years for managers from various programs and agencies to meet and develop their vision, but in 2006, Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center opened.
Since then, Dawson Place has become an international model used as an example by others who are looking to bring better help to children in their own communities. In their mission to help hurting kids, seek justice, promote healthy families, they work tirelessly toward their ultimate vision of ending child abuse. Since opening in 2006, thousands of forensic interviews and medical exams have been conducted. Assisting an average of 22 new children weekly, Dawson Place has helped over 15,000 special children.
You can see the facility here: What to Expect at Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center – Tour
Beresford Booth continues to have the privilege to support the great work of Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center in Everett. We have been a longtime sponsor of annual fundraisers such as their Transforming Hurt to Hope Luncheon, hosted every November. We are proud to be the sponsor of this year’s Keynote Speaker who has yet to be determined but is always fantastic.
Beresford Booth is especially honored and proud to announce that Kelsey Affronte, one of our leading litigators and a former Snohomish County Prosecutor, has been appointed to the Dawson Place Board of Directors. Having grown up in Monroe, Washington, Kelsey is passionate about giving back to her community. While working at the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, she had the opportunity to observe first-hand the great work of Dawson Place: the minimization of re-traumatization for victims; the staff’s tireless support of victims and their families; the support dogs that attend court with victims; and the deliberate decorating of its facility to demonstrate that these children are not alone.
Kelsey remembers the first time she toured Dawson Place: the bright colored murals, quiet space, and friendly faces. One room specifically stuck with her – the medical examination room. Each child who goes to Dawson Place for a medical examination is given a sticky hand, you know, those toys you throw at a wall or ceiling, and they stick? These children throw their sticky hands to the ceiling; each child who lays down for their examination knows they are not alone. Every time a sticky hand falls, staff believe it represents a healing child.
To reduce the number of sticky hands thrown, please join us and commit your support to the Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center. Donate here: https://www.dawsonplace.org/donate-now/
April’s Events
Dawson Place is a non-profit organization, and it is our privilege to support their exemplary work. You can learn more about Dawson Place and how to support them by visiting their website: https://www.dawsonplace.org/
This month, on Saturday, April 29, 2023, Dawson Place is hosting its “Super Kids Resource Fair” from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM. This is a free community event that is open to all. There will be games, crafts, music, a bounce house, lawn games, prizes and more. Multiple community organizations will be present along with fun for everyone! Learn more here: https://www.dawsonplace.org/events/super-kids-community-resource-event/