AWAKE Children’s Advocacy Center held a grand opening Monday at 35 East Ridge Drive in Bryson City, expanding access to services for children who have been physically or sexually abused.
The center shares a building with the Swain County Department of Social Services, which operates a respite center for children entering foster care. AWAKE occupies one-third of the building and provides services when initial abuse allegations are made.
“AWAKE is a non-profit organization that advocates, coordinates and provides services for children who have been sexually or physically abused,” Executive Director Crystal Jones said. “AWAKE’s mission statement is to coordinate and advocate services for abused children.”
The organization serves children and developmentally delayed adults. It operates centers in Jackson and Swain counties and has provided services in Jackson County since 1993. AWAKE began serving Swain County in 2021, previously referring children to its Jackson County office in Sylva or to facilities in Asheville, requiring travel of more than an hour.
According to Jones, when allegations of abuse are reported to law enforcement or social services, AWAKE coordinates forensic interviews and medical evaluations. Children are interviewed in a child-centered setting by trained forensic interviewers while partner agencies observe remotely, reducing the need for multiple interviews. Specialized medical providers conduct child medical evaluations when needed.
Families are offered victim advocacy, court support and trauma-focused counseling at no cost. The center provides evidence-based therapies, including trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and child-parent psychotherapy.
AWAKE coordinates monthly multidisciplinary team meetings involving staff, child protective services, law enforcement, prosecutors, medical providers and mental health professionals to ensure a collaborative approach to each case.
The Swain County center employs a forensic interviewer and a victim advocate dedicated to local cases, with additional therapists serving both locations. A facility dog, Lady Mae, a bloodhound, is also part of the team, helping reduce anxiety for children during visits.
Since 2022, nearly 300 children have received services through AWAKE, according to Jones. During that period, staff provided 1,487 advocacy services, conducted 279 therapy sessions and responded to 248 crisis interventions.
The center received accreditation through the state and the National Children’s Alliance after completing a review process in 2023. Funding for the new facility included grants from the Dogwood Health Trust and other sources.
AWAKE receives referrals exclusively from law enforcement and social services agencies, which have statutory authority to investigate abuse. Under North Carolina law, individuals are required to report suspected child abuse to authorities.
Visit AWAKE’s website at https://www.awakecacenter.org/donate for secure online giving or details on mailing checks. You can also contact Executive Director Crystal Jones directly at cjones@awakecacenter.org for more info.
Jones encouraged community members to report suspected abuse and support the center’s work through donations, volunteering and community awareness efforts. AWAKE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and donations are tax-deductible.
“One of the main things we ask for from communities is to be that voice for a child,” Jones said. “Please do not hesitate to report abuse. This is a very serious issue in our nation, and also in Swain County.”