April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. In Blount County, one out of ten children in Blount County will experience a form of sexual abuse by the time they’re 18 years old and oftentimes, the abuser is know to the child.
That’s where organizations like New Hope Children’s Advocacy Center steps up.
New Hope’s mission is to restore hope to abused or traumatized children and their families in Blount County.
Once a child enters into the doors at New Hope, they are greeted with warm embraces that stay with them each step of their healing journey. From forensic interviews to on-going therapy sessions, the gals at New Hope are dedicated to providing the best and kindest care they can to each child and family they encounter – all provided at no cost to the families.
The foundation of New Hope was built on the principle a child should not have to relive their trauma over and over again. In 2000, the stepping stones for what would become New Hope began when District Attorney General Mike Flynn brought local agencies together to explore starting a Children’s Advocacy Center in Blount County. New Hope opened its doors in 2003.
Throughout April, you may notice an increase of pinwheels across Blount County. According to Prevent Child Abuse America, the pinwheels represent childlike whimsy and lightheartedness and our vision for a world where all children grow up happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed in supportive families and communities. This campaign was started in 2008 and acts as a reminder of how we, as a community, can help change the lives of so many children in our community.
New Hope’s Recent Initiatives
In December of 2025, New Hope launched their Be Their Voice campaign, an intentional public awareness campaign designed to educate Blount County residents about child abuse prevention and encourage adults to take action when they suspect a child is being harmed, according the press release.
For more information about the Be Their Voice campaign visit the website at www.newhopecac.org/betheirvoice/. If you have a situation to report, please contact the 24-7 Anonymous Reporting number: 877-237-0004.
More information about all things New Hope, including their upcoming events, can be found at www.newhopecac.org.
