National Child Advocacy Center highlights ongoing fight against child abuse after 40 years
On Monday, Madison County leaders emphasized their ongoing support for an organization that provides resources for children who have experienced abuse.
Northrop Grumman opens new state-of-the-art integration center in Madison
For 40 years, the National Child Advocacy Center has provided forensic interviews and counseling for children experiencing child abuse in Madison County. The goal is for these children and their families to find justice and healing.
'We really are making an impact,' Lynn Scott, the State Executive Director of the Alabama Network of Children's Advocacy Centers, said. 'We're the prevention to things that we see later on if children do not resolve some of the issues and the trauma that they experienced.'
The center was born out of a desire to better assist children who had been abused.
'Many times, those resources that we were trying to target to help our children within each department were limited,' Madison County Commission Chair Mac McCutcheon said.
McCutcheon is a former law enforcement officer who said he remembers Madison County leaders working with Congressman Bud Cramer to create the center.'We began to talk about it would be nice if we had one stop location where we could combine those resources,' McCutcheon said. 'It would be beneficial. It would be for the children and, of course, the parents of the children and making cases for the court.'
In 1985, the National Children's Advocacy Center was formed in Huntsville. As the first of its kind, the center reformed how child abuse cases are investigated, prosecuted and treated. Over time, thousands of centers were established following this model, with 36 going up in Alabama, nearly a thousand in the U.S. and more across the world.
'You look at the results we have here,' McCutcheon said. 'This is the model of how things could be done and should be done.'
McCutcheon, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Madison Mayor Paul Finley signed a proclamation and stated their intent to support the goals of the National Children's Advocacy Center.
In its 40 years of operation, every child who has been helped at the center has received those services for free.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Scottsboro Police find man accused of shooting officer following nearly 20-hour manhunt
SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (WHNT) — The Scottsboro Police Department said it has found a man who shot a police officer Saturday morning. As of 10:03 p.m., SPD said Daniel Victor McCarn has been found. He was found on the 2000 block of Old Larkinsville Road. SPD said a local business owner and a resident saw McCarn through a camera they had at a business in the area. SPD went to check out the lead, which led to his arrest without incident. Authorities used heat signatures from a drone to find McCarn near the railroad tracks just behind the business. SPD released thermal drone video of his capture, which can be viewed below: Earlier, at around 12:49 a.m., SPD said it responded to a domestic incident on Ruth Street. When officers arrived, the department said McCarn drove off in a vehicle and started a police chase. The chase ultimately ended in a crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 72 and County Park Road. SPD released the following statement on McCarn: Daniel Victor McCarn Age 29 Formerly of Huntsville McCarn should be considered armed and dangerous The department said McCarn left the vehicle and began shooting at officers, and hit an SPD officer. He then ran away, and around 2:57 a.m., SPD said it was a multi-agency manhunt to find McCarn. Scottsboro Resident Daiton Ashmore lives down the road from where the incident took place. She said she heard it when she happened to get up in the night. 'I had to go use the bathroom and wanted to check on my kids, and I heard a popping noise,' she said. 'It was like a rapid pop pop pop. Honestly, it kind of made me think someone was knocking on the door.' She said a variety of law enforcement agents were combing through her yard shortly after. She and her neighbors were told to shelter in place. The officer was taken to Huntsville Hospital for treatment. The department said the officer's injuries are not considered life-threatening. 'He is okay,' said Durham. 'We have spoken to him. He is being treated by Huntsville Hospital. He is injured. However, they are saying that they are not life-threatening injuries.' Durham added that the officer had a procedure done. SPD said Highway 72 around County Park Road had reopened to traffic. SPD said that heat during the day was a big obstacle in its search, as it made getting drones up for thermal aerial images difficult. SPD added that a family member of McCarn was the one who initially called SPD, which led to the incident. SPD said that he has no past criminal history. A Blue Alert was issued by ALEA around 12:15 p.m. A Blue Alert is issued when: Peace Officer is missing, injured, or killed and an at-large suspect is believed to be a serious threat to the public, ALEA said. 'Multiple law enforcement agencies are on scene to assist in the search for McCarn, including Special Agents assigned to ALEA's State Bureau of Investigation, Troopers assigned to ALEA's Highway Patrol and federal partners to include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,' ALEA said. Several businesses, including Bruce's Foodland, announced they were delaying opening due to the situation in the area. '7/26/25 6:45 AM UPDATE: Bruce's Foodland in Scottsboro will delay opening until further notice due to an active law enforcement situation nearby. Please join us in keeping everyone involved in your thoughts and prayers. We will post an update on opening as soon as law enforcement gives us the all clear. The safety and well-being of our team and customers is our top priority.' Bruce's Foodland, Facebook The Cloverdale Rehabilitation and Nursing Center also announced that it was not accepting visitors at this time to protect residents and staff. 'Visitation Update – CRNC Out of an abundance of caution, Cloverdale Rehabilitation & Nursing Center remains on temporary lockdown due to an ongoing community safety concern. At this time, only staff are permitted entry. We are closely monitoring updates from law enforcement and local news and will reopen to visitors as soon as it is safe to do so. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we prioritize the safety of our residents and team.' Cloverdale Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Facebook Google Maps shows that U.S. Highway 72 from the Taco Bell to Whataburger is closed until 12:30 p.m. The Piggly Wiggly in Scottsboro had been delayed opening due to the incident, but at 11:30 a.m. announced that the store had opened up for business. Scottsboro City Schools is also asking people to avoid several schools in the area. Scottsboro City Schools, Facebook High Country Toyota also took to Facebook to delay opening due to the ongoing situation. You can read the business's post below. 'Scottsboro Police Department, along with multiple other agencies, is searching for a suspect in an officer-involved shooting in the area of County Park Rd and Hwy 72 thismorning. The suspect is still on foot and considered armed and dangerous. We will delay opening until further notice due to an active law enforcement situation nearby. Please join us in keeping everyone involved in your thoughts and prayers. We will post an update on the opening once law enforcement gives us all the information. The safety and well-being of our team and customers is our top priority.' High Country Toyota Jackson County Sheriff Rocky Harnen said the single-vehicle accident on Hwy 72 around 6:58 a.m. is related to this incident, but did not provide more details. Representative Dale Strong took to social media to comment on the Scottsboro officer-involved shooting. You can read his full statement below. 'I am saddened and troubled to learn of the Scottsboro Police Department officer who was shot and injured in the line of duty. My thoughts and prayers are with the officer, his loved ones, and the entire Scottsboro law enforcement community. Please join me in praying for the officer's full and swift recovery.' Dale Strong Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Yahoo
Florence Police adding extra officers downtown after public safety meeting
FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT) — Florence Police Department held a meeting with all businesses in the downtown area to discuss the needs and wants for extra security. The violent incidents, including a kidnapping and a recent shooting, have local merchants looking for answers from the police department. Residents plead for road to be fixed, say services refuse to use it 'Florence is growing, and with that, you may have problems from time to time,' Florence Deputy Chief Ira Davis said. So, FPD is making some changes. 'We just added higher visibility, more officers out and about,' Davis said. Popular downtown bars are drawing crowds, which can lead to rowdy behavior. Area businesses and law enforcement want to find ways to prevent small incidents from escalating. 'Safe and effective': Pediatrician discusses MMR vaccine amid high measles case numbers 'We can't blame the businesses that are there, all the businesses that we have dealt with have been well in municipal ordinances as well as state law, they're not doing anything wrong, once again, summer time is with a large influx of visitors and Florence is thriving,' Davis said. For now, more officers will be placed downtown, expect more traffic tickets to be written, and police will be keeping an eye out for anyone creating a nuisance and violating local laws. FPD tells News 19 they're going to see how it goes for the next few weeks until they come up with a solid plan for the downtown area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Yahoo
‘We knew they were gone': Big Sandy Creek flood kills mom, two brothers still missing
TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – Sherry McCutcheon dropped off her mom, Betty West, at home after spending July 4 together. Instead of hot dogs and hamburgers, they opted for Chinese food. 'Mama loved Chinese food,' McCutcheon said. '[It was] her last meal.' Flash flooding claimed more than 100 lives in Central Texas. Here's what we know about the victims McCutcheon had no idea that a few hours after dropping her mom off, the creek behind her house would surge. She said it flooded before, but never to the point of needing to evacuate. 'I went to sleep with the ringer off, and I woke up about three o'clock [a.m.] like I always do, and then I noticed my mama called and left a message. I [also] had two texts from my brothers, and then nothing,' she said. McCutcheon's mom, Betty, lived in the house with her two sons – McCutcheon's brothers – Gary and Doug. 'I kept calling, calling, and calling at four o'clock. I finally called 911,' she continued. McCutcheon and her sister, Terry Traugott, went to their mom's later that Saturday morning. They learned that responders could not access the house due to extreme flooding until 7 a.m., four hours after McCutcheon received her family's calls and texts. 'They couldn't get there. So that's when we found out. We knew they were gone,' McCutcheon said. Responders identified their mom's body later that day. Their two brothers are still missing, but the sisters said they don't think they survived. 'We don't feel them anymore,' Traugott said. 'We just want them back.' The sisters have come to their mama's home – a place they spent countless hours together as a family – every day since the catastrophic flood destroyed it. They've spent the time looking for mementos, such as photos and trinkets, and praying that their brothers are found soon. 'I want everybody to please pray that my brothers come home. We want my brothers,' Traugott said. At least seven people are dead and 10 others are missing following the weekend flooding in Travis County, officials said Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
