Leslie Smith and Smith County Sherriff Larry Smith at the Children's Advocacy Center of Smith County's third annual Spring Luncheon April 4. (Katecey Harrell/ Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Mark Hageman, who has fostered 19 children, knows the impact child abuse has on victims.

“This is a very real thing,” Hageman said. “Within the walls of my own home, we live and are raising children who are victims of child abuse.”

Women of Courage hosted the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County’s (CACSC) third annual Spring Luncheon at the Green Acres Crosswalk Conference Center. The event educated more than 400 guests about the organization’s mission to end child abuse and how to support it.

Women of Courage are ambassadors for children victimized by abuse through increasing awareness, promoting prevention and strengthening the coordinated efforts of the CACSC.

“April is child abuse awareness and prevention month,” said Emily Taylor, CACSC communications manager. “Our spring luncheon is our kickoff for the month.”

Partner agencies, law enforcement, education and other entities gathered to discuss the center’s role in protecting children in the community. Keynote speaker Kevin Mulcahy shared testimony as a survivor of child sexual abuse and former federal prosecutor for crimes against children.

“Child abuse is an uncomfortable topic. People don’t want to talk about it. It’s not well known, but it does happen,” Taylor said. “The more we talk about it, the more we make it a normal conversation. The more adults we educate, the more kids we can protect.”

Hageman, principal of Winona High School, emphasized the significance of community support for these children and the CACSC. Children need to know what they’ve endured wasn’t their fault and that there are safe adults who care about them.

Winona ISD is a trauma-informed district, superintendent Damenion Miller said. There are various mentorship and counseling programs aimed at supporting child victims of abuse.

“We work very hard and have special training for our teachers to help identify those situations,” Miller said. “We identify trusted adults on campus, and there’s a student group that sponsors and supports other kids and encourages them if they need help from an adult.”

Miller said the CACSC saw more than 1,000 children last year.

“Where would those kids go if they did not have the CAC here in Smith County,” Miller asked.

There are a multitude of resources available at the CAC. All its services are free of charge for families, and operations require generosity from the community. People can call the CAC to learn more about the resources, to learn about or tour the center, and to donate to its cause.

“These kids need everybody they possibly can in their corner,” Hageman said. “This is one of those corners we’ve got to support as a community.”