Cooper-Anthony child advocacy center holds first CHAMP Camp
Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center held its inaugural Children Healing from Abuse with Maximum Potential, or CHAMP, Camp last week at First Lutheran Church.
Socially distant and masked campers participated in daily, interactive and engaging groups on life-skill topics that included self-esteem, conflict resolution, goals, dreams, feelings and safety, a news release said.
CHAMP Camp is an opportunity for clients to come together in community and enjoy safe and supportive fun while also helping to build connections between campers and staff and reinforce what the clients have learned in therapy, the release said, noting it is held for current and graduated therapy clients.
“We are so thankful to be able to provide this camp to our children free of charge,” CAMCAC Executive Director Tracey Childress said. “Because of the generosity of our donors, we were able to put on this event. We hope to eventually hold three per year. We will also be holding a CHAMP Camp in Benton from July 27-30.”
Sponsors included CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs, Allstate, Arvest Foundation, Lawrence W. and Carol Levi, Terry Terrill, First Security, Windows USA, JA of Hot Springs, Josh C. Cantrell, Garver, Riser Ford, Diamond Bank, Arkansas Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, Relyance Bank, Alliance Rubber Co., Cecil W. Cupp, Southern
Bancorp, Plumlee and Associates Inc., Seller Eye Clinic and First Lutheran Church.
The CAMCAC’s mission is to utilize a multidisciplinary team approach to providing a safe, child-friendly and caring place where children are assessed when allegations of child abuse arise, the release said. This approach includes law enforcement, Department of Human Services, Crimes Against Children Division and the Child Advocacy Center.
CAMCAC has an office in Hot Springs and two satellite offices in Benton and Mena, and serves Polk, Montgomery, Garland, Saline, Hot Spring and Grant counties.