The power of a collaborative approach to protect children
By Anjana Kallarackal
Cobb County is not immune to its share of problems. Some of the most disturbing are the abuse and neglect of children. These crimes are often subtle, affect a highly vulnerable population, and have long-lasting consequences.
But in response to these crimes, a quiet network of support has been established to protect these children. SafePath, a children’s advocacy center, works alongside the Cobb County Police Department, the six city police departments, Wellstar, Cobb’s Division of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS), and Cobb’s District Attorney’s office. Together, they give voice to a group that cannot always advocate for themselves.
SafePath is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization that is accredited by both the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia (CACGA). For SafePath CEO Jinger Robins, it is important to fiercely advocate for the program just as fiercely as she advocates for the children. The organization helps ensure that they have access to the best support system and resources possible. “Our whole mission and purpose is to reduce the trauma to children as they go through intervention, investigation, prosecution, and treatment,” Robins explains.
Robins is a key figure for SafePath and in efforts to support victimized children. Robins’ conviction in the cause started early on in her career when she worked as a staff psychologist in Polk County Juvenile Home in Iowa. When needed, she would testify in court but found that the system was inclined to prioritize keeping families together even at the risk of further exposing a child to a threatening circumstance. Seeing this approach consistently fail was in part what crystallized her commitment to the welfare of vulnerable children. This conviction is what has driven her focus since being hired by SafePath in 1995.
A recent case
Earlier this February, a former city official was caught in a sting operation conducted by the Cobb County Police Department Special Victims Unit. The guilty party made online contact with whom he thought was a 14-year-old girl but was actually an undercover official. His messages were sexually explicit, and he ultimately was taken into custody and pled guilty to obscene internet contact with a minor and criminal attempt to commit aggravated child molestation.
While this operation was successful, there are many children who are not as fortunate. These cases include incidents of severe neglect, emotional aggression, physical violence, sexual abuse, and trafficking of children. According to the Georgia Department of Human Services, (https://dhs.georgia.gov/division-family-children-services-child-welfare) about 6,000 children in Cobb County were offered child protective services during the previous fiscal year.
SafePath’s primary role is to reduce the trauma for these children, advocate for them, and coordinate and facilitate conversations across disciplines to make the process of navigating through a difficult situation more efficient and less stressful. Providing services to these children is central to what children’s advocacy centers do. As Robins puts it, “We’re there making sure the children are the center of attention.”
Law enforcement
When an incident occurs, the report goes to Cobb’s DFCS or Police Department first. If law enforcement finds cause, then a child will be brought into SafePath for a forensic interview. Their primary role within the group is to investigate any allegations of child abuse, and if there is cause to do so, make an arrest.
Housed within the same building, both SafePath and Cobb County’s police department can provide additional training, resources, support, and information to one another. Often, the initial interview is conducted by a detective and/or one of SafePath’s forensic interviewers. Lieutenant Kenneth Kromer of the Special Victim’s Unit shares, “I don’t know of any other civilian entity that works as closely, [and as] hand-in-hand with the police department [as] SafePath does.” Chief VanHoozer, Cobb County’s Police Chief, underscored the value of SafePath’s expertise in prosecuting successfully, sharing that “Integral and powerful would probably be two words that I associate with SafePath.”
DFCS
Cobb County DFCS’s main responsibility is to protect a child from a threatening circumstance and get them into a safe environment. They primarily get involved if the alleged offender is a direct caregiver. In such cases, DFCS will observe the forensic interview and discuss the interviews that law enforcement conducted with offending and non-offending caregivers. DFCS also provides services such as counseling, assessments, therapy, mentoring of parents, finding a replacement home for a child, and addressing mental health concerns of caregivers.
Lindsey Howerton, the newly appointed Director of Cobb County’s DFCS comes with 19 years of child welfare experience. She shares, “SafePath really is very responsive; they’re caring. As soon as a child arrives, they try to make them comfortable and explain the process to them and limit [their] fears or worries.” She adds that as a child advocacy center, SafePath is not only able to talk through a child’s experiences and their trauma, but that they are simultaneously able to collaborate with other child welfare agencies so that they can all effectively administer to the families and children that need help.
Wellstar
Once a report has been made and a child is referred to SafePath, the professionals (law enforcement, DFCS) may refer them for medical examination. SafePath’s facility also features a medical exam room and a Wellstar pediatric nurse practitioner, who is another significant piece of this dedicated support network.
Any child suspected of being a victim of abuse is entitled to a medical exam. And while the state of Georgia doesn’t require a pediatric nurse practitioner to be onsite, Wellstar prioritizes it. The exams they conduct ascertain the well-being of the child and give medical practitioners the opportunity to direct children and their families to the appropriate specialists when needed. In the case of a forensic medical exam, the exam findings may be used as evidence in a court case.
To make the exams as comfortable as possible for a child, there’s always another medical assistant present, ensuring the child does not feel vulnerable in the presence of a single adult. Nurses also are specifically trained to conduct their medical exams in a child-friendly, trauma-informed manner.
The DA’s office
“SafePath is an essential partner in ensuring the well-being and safety of children in Cobb County,” stated Cobb District Attorney, Sonya Allen. “As District Attorney, it is my commitment that these cases will receive the highest priority and support to ensure justice is served.” The District Attorney’s Office helps to investigate and file cases of child abuse and neglect. And they prosecute these cases, making sure to protect the rights of the victims and witnesses involved. Lindsay Raynor, Cobb County’s Assistant District Attorney, explains of their work: “We go to court, and we tell the stories and make sure these kids have their voices heard in court.”
Raynor spoke about the multitude of roles that SafePath plays. Among these, include conducting forensic interviews, offering therapy services, testifying as witness, and providing emotional support to a child being prepped for court. Lauren McAuley, Cobb’s Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney, shares, “It takes a village to protect the most vulnerable members of society. Without the collaboration [of SafePath], we would not be able to do our job.” She expounded, saying, “They really help lift the victims’ voices up and help us illustrate the victims’ story to a jury, and I can’t imagine a universe in which we would be able to do this work without them.”
Weekly meetings
Twice a week, representatives from DFCS, law enforcement, Wellstar, the District Attorney’s Office, and SafePath, better known as the multi-disciplinary team (MDT), come together to discuss each case, giving each party an opportunity to share what they have seen in greater detail, making sure they are all aware of the same and necessary information. For instance, a nurse from Wellstar might help explain medical notes or a forensic interviewer might contextualize details from their initial conversation with a child.
Hannah Chambers, a Wellstar nurse practitioner, praised the collaborative approach, noting how valuable it is to sit in on these meetings because of the ever-evolving nature of these cases. This close collaboration also minimizes the number of times a child must repeat their story during a very sensitive time.
McAuley and Raynor of the District Attorney’s office both underscored how crucial it is to have all the community partners come together and participate in their multidisciplinary team meetings. McAuley explains that child crime prosecutions are victim-based prosecutions, meaning “the victim is at the center of the case [at] every stage.” Or as Jennifer Puckett, a former nurse practitioner of Wellstar, says, “The whole thing in my viewpoint is what do we need to do to support the child so they can successfully survive and move on.”
Having a strong MDT and shared cause has strengthened SafePath’s ability to apply for grants, and conversely, made it easier to share their resources and support with their collaborators. And, given the emotionally challenging nature of the work, the informal emotional support of a community that can fully understand the complexities and traumas that they are all seeing is also valuable.
How the collaboration has evolved
Sean Ferrell, SafePath Board President, has observed firsthand the evolution of Cobb’s collaboration to protect children. “The collaboration between law enforcement, the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS), Wellstar Health System, and the District Attorney’s office with SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center has proven to be a transformative alliance,” he says. “We should dub it a Dream Team! With this united front, SafePath is able to serve as a catalyst to remove silos, streamline communication, and prevent delays while addressing child abuse cases which has significantly impacted the loves of countless children and families in Cobb County.”
The future for SafePath
While some healthcare and law enforcement roles see turnover due to the highly taxing emotional labor required in this line of work, others change because their posts require a specific term of service. As a result, there are many changing faces at the table when it comes to child advocacy and safety. This is why it also is valuable to have someone as committed to the cause as Robins, who not only advocates for the children effectively, but also initiates new leaders of the community into the work.
With each entity seeing a multitude of cases, Robins makes it her mission to maintain funding, attention, and community support for SafePath’s cause. “I want the mission to stay strong. I don’t want the mission drift,” she states. Mission drift occurs when organizations begin to slowly, sometimes unconsciously, alter their mission to qualify for additional funding opportunities. Robins reiterates that “the focus has to stay on children.”
Community vigilance
Both Chief VanHoozer and Lieutenant Kromer noted that the past many years have seen an uptick in predatory behavior originating through online communication through social media and chat apps.
If even a hint of suspicion regarding abuse or misconduct is apparent, it is important to remember that all one needs to do is make a phone call. All calls remain anonymous.
In case of emergencies: 911
Cobb County’s non-emergency number: 770.499.391
DHS Division of Family and Children Services’ (DFCS) Child Protective Services (CPS) for cases of child abuse or neglect: +1 855.422.4453
Conversely, there is a severe penalty for not reporting a suspicion of child abuse under the mandatory reporting law. Ultimately, staying vigilant and believing children are critical.
Wider community collaboration
While SafePath receives some funding through grant allocations, their work is also supported through individual donations and fundraisers. And though volunteers cannot directly work with the children due to the highly sensitive nature of the work, they are more than welcome to support in other ways by volunteering onsite with a variety of tasks and at fundraisers, in addition to being educated on the prevention of child abuse.
If you would like to get involved with SafePath through volunteering, donating, or participating in an event, please contact Lindsey Dugan — Community Resource Assistant (LindseyDugan.SafePath@cobbcounty.org). Visit SafePath.org for updates and resources.
Mark your calendar for the following events benefitting and promoting SafePath’s mission:
Mar. 21-23, 2025: Georgia Food and Wine Festival — 2025 Charity Partner SafePath
To purchase tickets, visit: https://georgiafoodandwinefestival.com/
Apr. 16, 2025: 2025 ATKINSRéalis Golf Classic benefitting SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center
To register or sponsor visit: https://safepath.org/event/2025atkinsgolfclassic/
August, 2025: SafePath’s 22nd Annual Hearing Children’s Voices Gala
For those interested in helping DFCS, their website offers options to donate a meal, become a foster parent, or volunteer in several other ways. DFCS also has a care portal (https://fosteringtogether.com/careportal) for those who are interested in providing tangible items for families in need.
Protecting our future
Despite the severe consequences for crimes against children and the preventative measures in place, the issue persists. The concerted efforts of children’s advocacy centers like SafePath and community organizations such as Wellstar, the District Attorney’s Office, DFCS, and the Police Department are more crucial than ever. As Robins puts it, “The power is in a collaborative approach.” With a strong, multi-disciplinary team working to mitigate these crimes and better protect children, progress is being made. Ultimately, the cause is clear and worthwhile — protecting children is preserving their potential. As Robins reiterates, “Children literally are our future.”
CHOA’s Pam Younker Receives National Defense Champion Award
The Association of Defense Communities, which works to support the military through local partnerships that include infrastructure improvements, school programs, and healthcare services, recently named its 2024-2025 Defense Community Champions. Among the honorees is Pam Younker, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Community Development Officer.
The Defense Community Champion Award is a prestigious honor, created to celebrate individuals who go above and beyond to make a difference in their defense communities — leaders who bridge the gap between military installations and civilian life and who work tirelessly to support the men and women in uniform.
Younker is the daughter of a United States Marine, so her dedication to our military runs deep. Her commitment to military initiatives began in 2007 through the Honorary Commanders Association, a leadership program offered in Cobb County, where 25 military members, from each branch of the services, are paired with 25 civilian counterparts for a year to be educated about all military branches and to tour military installations. Since then, she has held key leadership roles impacting our local military, including chairing the Honorary Commanders Association and the Honorary Commanders Alumni Association, and co-chairing the Team Dobbins Advisory Initiative Committee.
Nationally, Younker serves as a civic leader for the Air and Space Forces, Air Mobility Command, and Air Force Reserve Command. She has advocated tirelessly for Dobbins Air Reserve Base, supported service members and their families through transitions and challenges, and helped preserve military heritage with initiatives such as the restoration of the historic Dobbins Chapel.
Her efforts have been recognized through additional honors, including the “Best of the Best” award from Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Marietta Citizen of the Year, and the Cobb Chamber’s Len Gilbert Award, in recognition of her outstanding leadership and support for our military.
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