After telling her mother that a family member was touching her while she was in bed at night, Julie’s mother brought her to the Center where she had a Forensic Interview. Julie disclosed that she had been suffering abuse at the hands of her stepfather for the past three years. 

Julie and her family were referred to our therapy department and they all began receiving therapy at the Center. Our Family Advocate began working with the mother and assisted her with Crime Victim’s Compensation, which assisted Julie’s family with temporarily relocating out of the home where the abuse happened. The Advocate then connected Julie’s mother with a caseworker at the Housing Authority to help her with affordable housing for her and her family. The mother was referred to and attended our Back to School Fair and Holiday Shop for the past two years, and she described this support to be incredibly beneficial to her family. 

When the case went to trial, Julie and her mother bravely took the stand and spoke about how the abuse affected them and their family. The Family Advocate provided court support during the trial and helped Julie process her emotions and provided support when she was feeling overwhelmed. 

The offender was found guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child and was sentenced to 25 years in prison, without parole. Julie’s mother was very emotional when speaking with her Family Advocate about all the support the Center provided to her family from the day they first came to the Center, all the way to the end of the trial. 

Julie is now 17 years old and has graduated high school with honors. Our Family Advocate assisted her in applying for financial aid, and Julie will start college this fall.