by Megan Valandingham
Victim Advocate and Case Manager, Maggie Inscho, provided a behind-the-scenes tour of her process of putting together supplies for a family in need of children's clothing, diapers, and wipes. 26.3 million people reside in the region of Appalachia, and 4.3 million of them live in poverty, most having to rely on faith or federally-based programs for the bare necessities.
A 2019 analysis says, "Because family victim advocates provide essential services to parents and caregivers, the role requires ongoing training and education to remain current on the ever-changing complexities of working with not only the children and families but also the criminal and child protection systems responsible for investigating these cases."
Victim Advocates works with many clients who are hesitant to ask for help. A total of 13,554 children, adults, and undisclosed clients receive case management and coordination for children's advocacy centers in the state of Tennessee.
Inscho herself works across three counties, helping victims and families alike on a daily basis.
"We're ready to be grandparents, but are we ready to be caregivers?" Inscho said, "When I meet the families, I ask them what they need. Whatever they need, we get together...We want to arm the community with education on how to help our families, and we want to be the hands and feet that we use to arm our families."
By the end of the tour, Inscho put together three bags worth of clothing, diapers, and wipes for three children being raised by a grandparent. It was clear that Inscho takes pride in her work, approaching each case in the thirteen-year-long career with the same emotion and open arms that she approached the last.
Children Advocacy Centers are there to provide essential services to the families of the communities. What can be done to support the centers? Donations, monetary or physical items. Reporting cases to 877-237-0004 but knowing that it is not the caller's job to interrogate the child. Know, the victim's name, where it happened, and who the perpetrator is when making the call, and leave the questioning to law enforcement.
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