Lauri Cothran is an Alabama Bright Light who appreciates the power of pinwheels
Lauri Cothran and the Central Alabama Regional Child Advocacy Center partner with the Alabama Courthouse Facility Dog Program. The dogs help calm and comfort children going through interviews, hearings or medical exams. (contributed)
Lauri Cothran sees power in pinwheels.
Sure, they are fun to make and play with, but to Cothran, executive director of the Central Alabama Regional Child Advocacy Center (CARCAC), they represent much more.
Pinwheels to her are the sign a child is safe from abuse. She has used them with children during forensic interviews at the center.
CARCAC has offices in Selma and Centreville. The organization works with children when there is an allegation of abuse. It performs forensic interviews with the children after a referral from the Alabama Department of Human Resources.
“Our main effort is to perform these forensic interviews and work toward the safety of the child,” Cothran said. “We also have a victim’s advocate who works with the family until the case is resolved. They prepare them and help the child through the entire process. Their job is to make the child and family feel safe.”
Lauri Cothran of CARCAC is an Alabama Bright Light from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
CARCAC provides the community with an outreach coordinator who offers information, guidance and coaching about mandatory reporting.
“Mandatory reporting can be from anyone who works with children. They must report abuse if they notice unexplained bruises or neglect,” Cothran said.
The pandemic, as it did with almost everything during the past year, affected CARCAC’s operations.
“When COVID-19 hit last spring, we were approaching Child Abuse Month and we readjusted and went virtual,” Cothran said. “We knew children still needed help. We still offered forensic interviews on an emergency basis.” To protect the health of children and clients, “We also took soft toys out of the room, wore masks and allocated time in between interviews to clean and spray. COVID-19 did make the days a little longer.”
Cothran and her staff achieve their mission with the support of generous donors like the Alabama Power Foundation.
“We have worked with Alabama Power Foundation often and they have supported us for years,” Cothran said. “Their employees are very supportive. They chose us to receive grants and donated items. When a child finishes the interview, we give them a tote bag that includes a book, a blanket and a stuffed animal. Alabama Power Foundation has donated those as well.”
To make the children feel even safer and more comfortable, Cothran has partnered with the Alabama Courthouse Facility Dog Program.
“These dogs are trained at a high level. They can come into our office and sit with a child during the interview and even during a medical exam. They can also sit under their feet at the courtroom,” Cothran said. “In one interview, the child began to cry and the dog came and sat in her lap.”
While the work of CARCAC may seem challenging and difficult, Cothran knows how necessary it is and knows it makes a difference.
“Selma is my adopted home. I love it and want to show its best parts. When I came back home 10 years ago, I wanted to make a difference and help children. I am now helping prepare children to live to their potential by dealing with tough situations,” Cothran said. “After one interview, a child came to me and said, ‘Mrs. Cothran, I feel so much better.’ That’s why I do what I do.”
For more information, visit www.mightycause.com/organization/Central-Alabama-Regional-Child-Advocacy-Center and Central Alabama Regional Child Advocacy Center on Facebook.
Alabama Bright Lights captures the stories, through words, pictures and video, of some of our state’s brightest lights who are working to make Alabama an even better place to live, work and play. Award-winning journalist Karim Shamsi-Basha tells their inspiring stories. Email him comments, as well as suggestions on people to profile, at karimshamsibasha@gmail.com.
