Mission:

To promote healthy, happy families by reducing the occurrence and effects of child abuse and neglect.

Purpose:

The Family Center strives to significantly reduce the occurrence and reoccurrence of child maltreatment. Our two offices in Davidson and Rutherford Counties serve individuals throughout Middle Tennessee. Last year the Exchange Club Family Center’s prevention programs served over 4,582 children and parents in 28 counties and 9 states.

Child maltreatment is defined as the physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse or neglect of children. During 2006, the latest statewide reporting year, 79,843 cases of child abuse and neglect where reported to Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services. The actual incidence of abuse and neglect is estimated to be three times greater than the number reported to authorities, meaning the real number is approximately 234,000 of Tennessee’s children.

Sadly, child abuse is increasing in Middle Tennessee (Davidson and abutting counties). The number of substantiated child abuse cases in Davidson County rose from 1,646 in 2006 to 2,125 in 2007, a 23% increase. And in Rutherford County, the fastest growing county in Tennessee, the number of substantiated child abuses cases grew at an alarming rate: a 156% increase in 2006 and an additional 30% increase in 2007. These are staggering numbers that we are working diligently to reduce, both now and in the future.

We do so by providing three levels of prevention.

• At the first level, we raise community awareness of abuse and neglect.

• At the second level we identify and intervene with those who are at risk of abusing or neglecting their children.

• At the third level of prevention we work with parents and children where abuse or neglect has already occurred to ensure that it does not reoccur and that its negative effects are mitigated.