Kelly Bugg, executive director of Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center, sits in the waiting room. The space sports nautical decor and features a large fish tank. Safe Harbor conducts forensic interviews of children who are the victims of abuse or may have witnessed domestic abuse or a violent crime. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Years ago, a victim of child abuse would find themselves telling their story over and over again to a lot of adults: parents, police officers, prosecutors and counselors. The result of having to repeat their story was the child was often retraumatized over and over.

Advocacy centers like Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center in Warsaw provides a unique approach to the investigation of child abuse and neglect cases. Children involved in abuse cases are referred to the center for forensic interviews by either law enforcement or the Department of Children’s Services.

In the state, 26 counties have child advocacy centers that specialize in conducting forensic interviews with children who are the victims of physical/sexual abuse or have witnessed domestic abuse or a violent crime.

Kelly Bugg, executive director of Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center, said she believes Kosciusko County is the smallest county to have such a center. Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center is located in the K21 Pavilion, 1515 Provident Drive, Warsaw.

Bugg worked for the Department of Children’s Services for 33 years, and the Kosciusko County prosecutor discussed with her the need for such a center.

When she retired from DCS, she began working on finding funding and a location for the center. During that time the prosecutor’s office paid her for 15 hours a week.

“I firmly believe God led me to this. The way I was raised, to the job I had in high school, to not being successful in college the first time. At the time, it didn’t make sense. Now it does,” Bugg said.

In high school, Bugg had a job at a day care. Discovering she had a gift working with children, she thought she would be a teacher; however, her first experience student teaching showed her teaching was not for her.

So she went to work for the Welfare Department assisting people with food stamps. While there she was exposed to those who worked in child welfare. She returned to college where she earned a degree in criminal justice.

Bugg is certified in two methods of interviewing: finding words and child first.

When a child comes to Safe Harbor, the area is bright and cheery. The waiting room features a nautical theme complete with a fish tank.

The room where the actual interview takes place is small and cozy with a few nautical touches. The room has cameras and Bugg wears an earpiece that connects her to members of her team in another room.

The team is made up of the investigating detective, prosecutor, a representative from Bowen Center and a representative from DCS. They are able to listen and watch the interview. They are also able to ask Bugg to ask the child specific questions.

Bugg emphasized while the center is comfortable for the children who come to it, the goal is to find the truth and for the kids to get the help they need. “There is no financial incentive or personal/professional incentive for me to try and sway a child,” she said.

“People who have not lived outside Kosciusko County don’t know how fortunate we are with the relationship with law enforcement, DCS (and other agencies),” she said.

Bugg quickly develops a rapport with the child. “It’s important to be real,” she said. “Sometimes I’m vulnerable with them. I tell them, ‘My kids make fun of me for this.’” While conducting the interview, she has to be careful because she doesn’t want to retraumatize the child.

Interviewing a child typically takes about 30-45 minutes. When she has interviews scheduled, Bugg comes in approximately an hour early to make sure everything is set up.

Shown are Amy McPhail, certified emotional support dog handler, and Wally, a certified emotional support animal. The two play a special role, keeping a child company who has been interviewed at Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center after the interview.
Kelly Bugg, executive director of Safe Harbor, explained after an interview her team meets briefly to ensure they have all the information they need from the child and to determine what care the child needs moving forward. Photo provided by Kelly Bugg.

Her other duties include monthly case reviews with her team, which keep cases moving forward so they are not languishing somewhere in the system. She also has monthly reports and statistics to keep for various grants. And she joked she is also the janitor, responsible for watering the plants and other cleaning duties.

Safe Harbor needs funding. Government grants are helpful, but don’t cover some of the necessities such as liability insurance which costs $1,000 a year. Bugg said she’d like people to know they can make donations, including memorial donations, to the center.

For more information, call (574) 253-1871, visit incacs.org or email [email protected].