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ALBANY, GA -- Child Advocacy Centers (CAC) of Georgia is raising support for facilities – like the Firefly House of Lily Pad in Albany --- that help victims of child abuse.

Members of the organization and Lily Pad spoke with representatives of Southwest Georgia elected officials and others from the community about child abuse and sexual assault.

CAC officials say since 2001 they have seen 50,000 children, and in 2010 alone, they say they helped 9,000 children and their families.

They say it is important for the community to support facilities like this.

“DFCS (Department of Family and Children Services), law enforcement, mental health and medical professionals can come together reduce the trauma for children as they go thru this system of intervention and investigation,” says Jinger Robins, Chairwoman of CAC of Georgia. “Lily Pad is that hand to hold throughout the whole process. And if the community would just support it then we can ensure these families get what they need and then move on to prevention to keep children out of the system.”

Robins says Georgia is one of the only states in the U.S. with case tracking for child exploitation cases when the child is involved in human trafficking.

CAC’s goal is to promote, assist and support the development of child advocacy centers in the state for victims of sexual assault and child abuse.