For thirteen years, the Criminal Justice Program at SRTC-Moultrie has gathered teddy bears and other stuffed animals annually to provide comfort for the young clients of the Hero House Children's Advocacy Center in Moultrie. The Hero House works to minimize the trauma of child victims of sexual abuse and severe physical abuse by responding to their immediate and longer-term needs in a child-friendly, safe environment. Hero House Executive Director Regina Dismuke explained, "After a child has been interviewed, we offer them a teddy bear or other stuffed animal to comfort them. It can be scary and hard to talk about an abuse scenario and the children find comfort in a stuff animal. They are able to look at all the toys and make their own personal choice which also gives them a much-needed sense of control."
Tara Rakestraw founded the initiative when she became a Criminal Justice instructor at SRTC (formerly Moultrie Technical College) in 2008. Rakestraw became Dean for Academic Affairs School of Professional Services in 2020. In 2021, Dean Rakestraw entrusted new Criminal Justice instructor Benjie Nobles with the project. Before SRTC, Nobles was a former Superintendent of the Turner Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Facility with the Georgia Department of Corrections. Nobles expanded the initiative by inviting members of the community to join SRTC students, faculty, and staff in the project. The CA Gray Junior High School National Junior Honor Society, Moss Farms Diving Tigers Team, Autry State Prison, Georgia Department of Corrections, and Edward Jones Financial Services Firm joined the effort to provide child victims. Together, they donated 238 stuffed animals to the center.
Nobles said, “This was an excellent example for future criminal justice professionals and our students of what it means to become stewards of public trust and to serve our community, stakeholders and other agencies. Thanks to all those that helped and donated. Thanks to Dean Rakestraw for entrusting me with this project and to the faculty and students of SRTC’s Early Childhood Care and Education program for gathering the most. I looking forward to coordinating other community service projects.”
The Hero House provides a safe and child-friendly place for children that are victims of physical or sexual abuse. While at the Hero House, certified individuals conduct forensic interviews and SANE exams with the child victim(s) while collaborating with local law enforcement, Georgia Department of Families and Children, prosecutors, school professionals and representatives from the field of medicine and mental health to ensure these child victims can begin the healing process. For more information about the Hero House, please email Regina Dismuke: caccc@moultriega.net
SRTC’s Criminal Justice program prepares students for Criminal Justice professions. Learning opportunities develop academic, occupational, and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. The program emphasizes a combination of Criminal Justice theory and practical application necessary for successful employment. Graduates who are current practitioners will benefit through enhancement of career potential. Entry-level persons will be prepared to pursue diverse opportunities in the corrections, security, investigative, and police administration fields.
SRTC offers over 130 degree, diploma, and certificate programs that are designed to get you quickly into your desired career, and 28 general education courses that transfer to the University System of Georgia institutions and 19 private colleges and universities in Georgia. SRTC has instructional sites located in Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas, Tift, Turner, and Worth counties for the convenience of our students. The College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. For the most up-to-date information on registration, class dates, and program offerings, log on to www.southernregional.edu.
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