Mercy Women in Leadership hosted its annual “Soup for Your Soul” luncheon on May 9, with focus on the Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center (CAMCAC) in Hot Springs.

The luncheon took place at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, with Mercy co-workers from across the ministry joining the presentation virtually, including the Virtual Care Center in St. Louis. Sister Judith Marie Keith, former CEO and President of Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, led formation for the attendees, reminding everyone of Catherine McAuley’s skills, not only as a healer but as a leader. 

Tracey Childress, CAMCAC director, and Holly Heer, development coordinator, were on hand to discuss the impact CAMCAC has had on children in the region it serves. Located in Hot Springs, the center provided services for more than 830 children in 2022, a number that continues to grow each year, Childress said. The center is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year. At the time of its founding, Garland County saw some of the highest rates of child abuse in the state. 

The center provides a safe location for a child to share his or her story. Child advocates meet with the child and guardian to help provide a “blueprint” for what the child experiences while at the center. The advocates meet with the child to ask questions and learn more about the guardians before proceeding to speak with a forensic interviewer. A medical exam may follow. 

CAMCAC also provides child abuse education for students in school districts in many counties around the Hot Springs area. That’s been “hugely successful,” Childress said, and has expanded to more and more students in recent years. 

In addition to its forensic services, CAMCAC provides opportunities for children to attend CHAMP Camp each year. (CHAMP stands for Children Healing from Abuse with Maximum Potential.) The free program features gardening, yoga, art, music and more, along with mental health counseling, for children who are current or graduated clients of CAMCAC. The camp is an opportunity for clients to come together within the community to enjoy safe and supportive fun.  

The Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center’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. Learn more here. 

To make a donation to Champ Camp’s Amazon Wish List, click here. Visit the Mercy Health Foundation website here to donate to CAMCAC.