Board of Directors:
Andy Stewart, President
Bart Patterson, VP
Dr Jon Rubenow, Sec.
Jennifer Wilson, CPA, Tres
Michael Westbrook, Immediate Past President
Kevin Murray, Exec. Committee Member at Large
Lindsay Burton
Diane Bryant
Catherine Hicks
Lisa Jones
Andrew Joyner
Nicole McCoy
Erik Puckett
Alison Toller
Ex-Officio:
Rebecca Davis, PhD, CFRE, Executive Director
Staff:
Rebecca H. Davis, PhD, CFRE, Executive Director
Jill Anderson, PsyD, Clinical Director
Judith Brauer, Development Coordinator
Mary D'Ambrisi, LPC, Senior Therapist
Alison Phillips Williams, LCSW, Senior Therapist
Susan Collins, PsyD, Therapist
Mike Johnson, LMSW, Therapist
Karen McBurney Madsen, LAPC, NCC, Therapist
Sarynelly Rojas, MS, Bi-Lingual Therapist
Kathy Little, Office Manager
Kerrie Gnann, Therapy Intern
Lauren Gowen, Therapy Intern
Melisa Moore, Therapy Intern
Libby Sorrow, Therapy Intern
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About Us
The programs of the Children's Center for Hope & Healing touch the lives of more than 800 people each year who live across 13 counties of Northeast Georgia. The agency delivers programs through two offices (in Gainesville and Cumming) and through a satellite service location hosted by the Barrow Family Connections Office in Winder.
No other agency in Northeast Georgia offers the specialized care that the Children's Center for Hope & Healing provides.
What We Do
Our specially trained therapists work with youth, children, women and families through individual, group, and family therapy. Using art therapy and play therapy, we are able to work with even the youngest children. While our services are designed for children ages 4 to 17, we have worked with child victims as young as 3.
With all of our programs, safety is an important goal. We work with families to develop safety plans to keep their children safe. We also work with children to help them learn to keep themselves safe. In addition, we focus on healing and on reducing trauma symptoms.
In Project Pathfinder, additional attention is given to accountability, to restitution, and to addressing specific problematic behaviors. To read more about Project Pathfinder...
Our staff includes a bi-lingual translator who is able to work with families whose first language is not English.
Our History
As a result of a committed group of Hall County DFCS workers recognizing the unique needs of child victims of sexual abuse, a community needs assessment was undertaken with participation from judges, DA's, community mental health workers, and law enforcement officials. The results of their study pointed to a need for specialized services in the community for children who have been sexually abused.
In 1987, the Children's Center for Hope & Healing was formally incorporated. It became a Hall County United Way funded agency in 1989. As the program's service area expanded, so did community support. The United Ways of several other counties joined Hall County in offering support: White County (1992), Habersham County (1993), and Forsyth County (1996). More recently, the Children's Center for Hope & Healing was adopted as a partner agency by Lumpkin and Dawson Counties.
In 1996, Project Pathfinder was born as a result of seeing a rising incidence of children perpetrating sexual offenses against other children. The program, since its inception, has recognized that children who have sexual behavior problems are different from their adult counterparts and are highly treatable.
Finally, in 1997, the program tooks its current shape, extending services to women who have unresolved issues as a result of child sexual abuse.
Our Programs
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The Area of Northeast Georgia We Serve
Our History
1984: Hall County DFCS spearheads community initiative to break the cycle of sexual abuse.
1985: Needs Assessment conducted by volunteer community advisory committee comprised of DFCS offices, law enforcement, DA’s offices, judges, and mental health service providers.
Conclusion: Specialized services for child victims of sexual abuse are a critical need in Northeast Georgia.
1987: Agency incorporates as non-profit organization called Family Relations Program.
1988: A Gannett Foundation grant played an important role in helping the organization to get started financially.
1989: Agency becomes Hall County United Way partner. This is the beginning of partnership with several local United Ways including White (1992), Habersham (1993), Forsyth (1996), Dawson (2002), and Lumpkin (2003).
1992: Agency discontinues adult sex-offender treatment program.
1996: Project Pathfinder services are added.
1997: Women’s Services for adult female survivors were begun.
2008: Agency changes its name to the Children’s Center for Hope & Healing, Inc.
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