State leaders gathered in Â鶹´«Ã½ on Tuesday to highlight the work being done in Alabama and across the nation to address child trauma and abuse.
 started nearly 40 years ago right here in Â鶹´«Ã½.
On Tuesday, state leaders had the chance to see firsthand how children and families at the NCAC are given a second chance at hope.
Mental health has been a focus for Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter for many years, and that's a big reason why it was important for him to be there. During his tour of the facility, he said he put himself in other families' shoes and noted that the pain is unimaginable.
Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter said, “God certainly had his hand on this because it's a big deal for our kids and what they're getting. They're turning kids that would be in a bad, bad situation into productive citizens for the state. I think it's immeasurable when you look at it.â€
He plans to continue supporting the work being done at the NCAC and encourages others to do the same.
Also in the crowd on Tuesday was NCAC founder and CEO Bud Cramer.
The NCAC is approaching 40 years of providing resources to abused and neglected children, and Cramer says they have been able to accomplish a lot in that time.
“When I look back on what has now been a rich career for me, this is indeed my pride and joy. How could it not be when you see what it means, when you see what a difference it is making? But never would I have believed we would be here in this day and time, ever, and with this kind of impact on communities around the world,†said Cramer.
He says something he’s particularly proud of is that they now house other agencies at the NCAC.
Cramer said, “One of the best things that happened is we co-located personnel here now—the assistant DAs have an office here, the law enforcement detectives have an office here, and the social workers have an office here. We have a physician that comes here to do the exam, so we're a one-stop, more-or-less, service center."
He says they continue to host groups from around the world for training.
“About every week, we have a group coming in here to do individual training, sometimes from foreign countries as well. So, it’s maybe the community’s best-kept secret, but we are making a difference in the lives of children and families around the world,†added Cramer.
They also want to spread the word that the National Children's Advocacy Center, headquartered right here in Â鶹´«Ã½, is responsible for training child advocacy centers not just in Alabama but across the country and even worldwide, giving them the tools they need to help victims and their families navigate these difficult times.
