Child advocacy center awaits phase two

By CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

When children are the victims of abuse at the hands of an adult, being required to describe what happened to them over and over to numerous people could cause even more trauma.

Through the concerted efforts of a group of compassionate businessmen more than a decade ago, children who have been abused may now tell their story one time in one place — a place that represents safety to them, and a place where they may be evaluated and cared for by trained professionals.

The businessmen who undertook the project were joined by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders.

Numerous fundraisers brought support from the community at large, and eventually those efforts resulted in the construction of the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center (MCCAC) on Kozloski Road, Freehold Township. The center recently marked its fifth year of operation and is now in phase two of its development.

The center is a place where children who have been abused may be examined and cared for in one location, rather than having them visit a police station, a hospital emergency room and a counselor to retell the circumstances of their abuse.

“A child advocacy center is a child-focused environment designed to reduce the trauma to child abuse victims and their families often created when a child discloses sexual abuse, physical abuse or neglect,” according to the prosecutor’s website,

According to Terry Loftus, that is critically important when a child has been abused.

Loftus, who was a victim of child abuse, was a member of the original grassroots fundraising effort through the Western Monmouth Exchange Club in 1995.

The club is no longer in existence.

Loftus joined forces with former Monmouth County Prosecutor John Kaye about 10 years ago. He said Kaye wanted to create this type of facility, and had been working on the idea since the 1980s.

Loftus joined the exchange club because the organization’s credo was to prevent child abuse. He said the businessmen quietly raised more than $30,000 toward the center.

Kaye said he had been working to create a child advocacy center since 1984, when he was the county prosecutor. He met with individuals and groups to discuss the need for such a center. He commended the freeholders for donating the land for the center, for providing financial support for the effort and for maintaining the building.

He said the center’s video and audio recording systems offer “a tremendous advantage in finding out the truth.” Kaye said with those recording systems in place, a child only needs to explain what happened one time, thereby eliminating the need for the painful repetition of the experience. He praised the volunteers who worked hard to raise funds for the center.

Loftus said a public-private partnership has been forged by the formation of a nonprofit corporation, the Friends of the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center. The group was formed in 2004, and helped to raise funds to build the center.

Loftus commended the freeholders, who supported the effort by appropriating $1.25 million and providing the parcel on Kozloski Road where the center was built. He called Freeholder Director Lillian Burry the center’s “most ardent supporter” and thanked her for her efforts on its behalf.

Burry said she is looking forward to the completion of phase two. She said the center will “minimize the trauma these abused youngsters experience.”

She thanked Loftus and Kaye for their diligent efforts, hard work and dedication to the center.

Loftus said Monmouth County Acting Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni has pledged $500,000 toward the completion of phase two on behalf of the prosecutor’s office.

Phase one of the building includes forensic investigative rooms, a childfriendly waiting area, video and audio recording equipment, offices and a conference room.

Phase two is expected to provide additional forensic investigative rooms, therapy rooms, a medical suite, a staff nurse and an on-call doctor. Currently, children who have been abused must be taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, for examination, evaluation and investigation.

A serenity garden is planned, as well as an art therapy room in collaboration with Amanda’s Easel and 180 Turning Lives Around.

Loftus, who currently works as a sales associate with Gloria Nilson and Co. Real Estate, Manalapan, previously had a career as a corrections officer in a New Jersey state prison and as a vice president of investments for Prudential Securities.

He said the child advocacy center was designed with input from children. The building resembles a small school, which is a place that would make the youngsters feel safe.

Supporters are currently working to raise another $100,000 to complete phase two of the center. A tag sale fundraiser sponsored by Gloria Nilson, 351 Route 9 South, Manalapan, will be held Sept. 20. — Contact Clare Marie Celano at [email protected]