(Sept. 29, 2016) News of an animal cruelty case involving more than 300 dogs in Wicomico County earlier this year sent shockwaves across the community.
Something that has received far less attention, according to Cricket Center Foundation member Patty Falck, are the more than 90 children who were sexually or physically abused in Worcester County, last year.
“We must be willing to talk about this epidemic in order to make a difference,” Falck said. “Studies show that this particular crime is one of the most under-reported. This means there are many more children in Worcester County who have been keeping silent about their abuse.”
Last year the Cricket Center in Berlin logged 92 new cases of child sexual abuse, provided nearly 500 hours of trauma therapy, and identified 37 sex offenders that led to more than 150 years of jail time.
The average age of the victims was 7.
Hoping to spread awareness and raise money for the center, Worcester County’s child advocacy hub, two events will be held in Ocean City next month.
The Cricket Center Foundation will host the first at the Hobbit Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. The even will feature hors d’oeuvres and a live and silent auction with Doug Marshall. A cash bar will also be provided.
Auction items will be “high end,” including fine art, jewelry, Ravens tickets and trips.
About a week later, the eighth annual “Jamaican a Difference” event will be held at Seacrets on Friday, Oct. 14 from 6-10 p.m. That event includes a two-hour open bar from 6-8 p.m. and is described as being a “more relaxed, toes-in-the-sand” affair.
When Worlds Collide will provide live entertainment, and a silent auction will raise additional funds for the center.
Tickets for both events are $65.
Cricket Center Executive Director Wendy Myers said money raised during the events would go toward “direct services for kids in Worcester County who are abused.”
“We are the only child advocacy center in the county and we exist to prevent further victimization to children that are abused,” Myers said. “We are fully accredited by the National Children’s Alliance, and we are one of two child advocacy centers on the Eastern Shore of Maryland who are accredited.”
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Cricket Center is largely supported by grants, including funds from the federal Victims of Crime Act and the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention.
Worcester County, Berlin and Ocean City also supply grants to the center. The remainder of funds comes from donations and fundraisers.
“Those funds are critical,” Myers said. “Federal funds and state funds are certainly diminishing, and over recent years we’re seen decreases in a lot of the grant funding that we depend on. Of course, the need gets greater each year and costs go up.
“We provide all of our services for free – we never charge insurance, and we never charge or bill a family for any services we provide,” she added. “That includes medical intervention and trauma-based therapy.”
The Cricket Center’s other major event, the annual Walk for Kids on the Boardwalk in Ocean City, is held in April. Myers said that event is largely an awareness drive.
Myers said several partnering agencies also provide services to the Cricket Center. The Worcester County Department of Social Services Child Protective Unit and a member of the Worcester County Sheriff’s office are housed within the agency.
Additional partners include Atlantic General Hospital, which provides medical intervention through the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFES) program, the Life Crisis Center, which provides mental health therapy and family advocates, and the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office and local law enforcement.
“We all partner together to provide these services, and we certainly also depend on our community for support – not just in the way of financial support, but also prevention. It’s really important that we talk about this issue,” Myers said.
For more information, or to donate to the center, visit www.thecricketcenter.com. For tickets, email wendy.myers@maryland.gov.
Something that has received far less attention, according to Cricket Center Foundation member Patty Falck, are the more than 90 children who were sexually or physically abused in Worcester County, last year.
“We must be willing to talk about this epidemic in order to make a difference,” Falck said. “Studies show that this particular crime is one of the most under-reported. This means there are many more children in Worcester County who have been keeping silent about their abuse.”
Last year the Cricket Center in Berlin logged 92 new cases of child sexual abuse, provided nearly 500 hours of trauma therapy, and identified 37 sex offenders that led to more than 150 years of jail time.
The average age of the victims was 7.
Hoping to spread awareness and raise money for the center, Worcester County’s child advocacy hub, two events will be held in Ocean City next month.
The Cricket Center Foundation will host the first at the Hobbit Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. The even will feature hors d’oeuvres and a live and silent auction with Doug Marshall. A cash bar will also be provided.
Auction items will be “high end,” including fine art, jewelry, Ravens tickets and trips.
About a week later, the eighth annual “Jamaican a Difference” event will be held at Seacrets on Friday, Oct. 14 from 6-10 p.m. That event includes a two-hour open bar from 6-8 p.m. and is described as being a “more relaxed, toes-in-the-sand” affair.
When Worlds Collide will provide live entertainment, and a silent auction will raise additional funds for the center.
Tickets for both events are $65.
Cricket Center Executive Director Wendy Myers said money raised during the events would go toward “direct services for kids in Worcester County who are abused.”
“We are the only child advocacy center in the county and we exist to prevent further victimization to children that are abused,” Myers said. “We are fully accredited by the National Children’s Alliance, and we are one of two child advocacy centers on the Eastern Shore of Maryland who are accredited.”
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Cricket Center is largely supported by grants, including funds from the federal Victims of Crime Act and the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention.
Worcester County, Berlin and Ocean City also supply grants to the center. The remainder of funds comes from donations and fundraisers.
“Those funds are critical,” Myers said. “Federal funds and state funds are certainly diminishing, and over recent years we’re seen decreases in a lot of the grant funding that we depend on. Of course, the need gets greater each year and costs go up.
“We provide all of our services for free – we never charge insurance, and we never charge or bill a family for any services we provide,” she added. “That includes medical intervention and trauma-based therapy.”
The Cricket Center’s other major event, the annual Walk for Kids on the Boardwalk in Ocean City, is held in April. Myers said that event is largely an awareness drive.
Myers said several partnering agencies also provide services to the Cricket Center. The Worcester County Department of Social Services Child Protective Unit and a member of the Worcester County Sheriff’s office are housed within the agency.
Additional partners include Atlantic General Hospital, which provides medical intervention through the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFES) program, the Life Crisis Center, which provides mental health therapy and family advocates, and the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office and local law enforcement.
“We all partner together to provide these services, and we certainly also depend on our community for support – not just in the way of financial support, but also prevention. It’s really important that we talk about this issue,” Myers said.
For more information, or to donate to the center, visit www.thecricketcenter.com. For tickets, email wendy.myers@maryland.gov.