Pubdate: Fri, 05 Sep 2003
Source: Crossville Chronicle, The (TN)
Copyright: 2003 The Crossville Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.crossville-chronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1972
Author: Michael R. Moser,Chronicle editor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

SHERIFF'S VISION OF SAFE HOUSE FOR METH KIDS TAKES STEP TOWARD REALITY

Cumberland County owns the building and Sheriff Butch Burgess owns the 
vision of providing a safe haven for children victimized by their parents' 
methamphetamine use and the two took a step toward becoming one during a 
recent committee meeting.

Members of the Cumberland County Commission's buildings and grounds 
committee met with Burgess at the old First Baptist Church building on 
First St. and listened to the sheriff's plan for a multi-agency facility 
that would include the safe house for meth kids. The building would also 
provide a temporary site of solace for victims of child abuse and neglect 
and sexual abuse.

"I think it is a wonderful that a building that was a church will be used 
for such a purpose, providing a safe haven for children," Commissioner 
Sharon York said.

After touring the building for over an hour, the committee approved the 
concept of Burgess' Child Advocacy Center, giving Burgess permission to 
seek sponsors and volunteer donations of work and services to renovate the 
building.

"This will allow us to put under one roof all the services that deal with 
methamphetamine abuse and the affects on children," said Burgess. Having 
all agencies that work on those cases under one roof will greatly enhance 
success in the battle against meth, he said.

Burgess is asking the county to allow him to renovate the rear three-story 
addition to the original church building for the advocacy center. First 
floor under Burgess' plan would be to provide two meeting rooms, one of 
which would be large enough to serve as a training site and an office for 
Salvation Army.

The floor also has a kitchen area.

Salvation Army has taken a lead in providing volunteer and financial 
support to children who have been removed from homes because their parents 
or parent face methamphetamine charges. DCS workers no longer have an 
office in Crossville and work out of the Cookeville office. The second 
floor would house children, featuring a large toy room that would allow 
children to adjust to their new surroundings before undergoing physical and 
mental examinations and prior to being interviewed by the DCS workers.

Examination and interview rooms would also be on the second floor. A closed 
circuit camera system would allow DCS workers to talk to children while 
investigators observe from a separate area.

The third floor would hold offices for sheriff's investigators, an office 
for the county's resident TBI agent, offices for two Department of Children 
Services investigators and an office for an Assistant District Attorney 
General.

Burgess told the committee that he has put out feelers in the community to 
determine the amount of support that is available. Already he has 
volunteers who will be trained by DCS as temporary foster parents to care 
for the children until placement arrangements are made.

Physicians and a psychologist have volunteered their services for the 
children and Burgess said there have been overtures of grant money to fund 
the DA's office and from Salvation Army, which has been providing funds to 
provide clothing and personal items needed by children who are taken into 
protective custody.

Last year 46 children were protected by the state after meth arrests and 
Burgess said he would anticipate as many as 100 children the first year the 
center is in operation.

Present sheriff's department employees will be used in the program so that 
no new personnel will need to be hired and Det. Hazel Hubbard would wear a 
second title of director of the advocacy center.

Contractors and builders have offered help in the forms of labor and 
supplies, Burgess said. County Mayor Brock Hill said inmates from Southeast 
Regional Correction Facility will be used for renovations of the rear of 
the church.

The sheriff estimated it would take about $250,000 to get the building 
ready, which includes meeting Americans with Disability Act requirements 
for handicap accessibility, and predicted all but about $40,000 will be 
covered by grants, donations and donated labor.

Commissioner Jimmy Inman made a motion to approve the concept so that 
Burgess can continue to solicit donations of work, services and funds, 
which was seconded by Dennis Hinch.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom