Cherokee, NC – Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center (CAC) sent 16 community partners to the Champions for Children Conference on March 9-11, 2026, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. Hosted by AWAKE Children’s Advocacy Center, the annual conference brings together professionals dedicated to protecting and uplifting children to strengthen the response to child abuse.
The three-day training focused on identification, investigation, and response to crimes against children. Sessions covered critical topics such as secondary traumatic stress, burnout and compassion fatigue, forensic protocols, social media exploitation, human trafficking, and included a hands-on mock trial experience. Specialized training sessions were led by experts from the NC Highway Patrol, NC Department of Social Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other leaders in the field.
The Heart to Heart CAC team includes program manager, case manager/forensic interviewer, mental health therapist (vacant), and administrative assistant. Heart to Heart CAC is a key partner within the Cherokee Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), a collaborative group that works together to support children and families impacted by abuse. Community partners include local law enforcement, Family Safety, the Tribal Prosecutors Office, Federal partners, and medical providers.
Miriam Fuller, Heart to Heart CAC Program Manager, shared the following:
“Heart to Heart is deeply committed to ongoing education, not only for our staff, but for our MDT partners as well. By strengthening our skills and collaboration, we aim to provide the highest level of care and support to the children and families we serve. Thank you to AWAKE CAC and all our partners for your continued dedication to protecting children and supporting our community.”
April is recognized annually as Child Abuse Prevention Month. The community is invited to join Family Safety, Heart to Heart and partners for the 2nd Annual Superhero “Every Child Matters” Walk/Ride on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
Event details:
- 10:15 AM: Meet at the Museum of the Cherokee People parking
- 11:00 AM: Walk/Ride begins; Path will travel Tsali Blvd to Unity Field.
- Activities at Unity Field will include an Easter egg hunt (bring a basket), prizes, inflatable jump house and slide, vendors, music, Kona Ice, and food trucks.
To make a report on behalf of a child or adult, call Family Safety at 828-359-1520. After hours, call Cherokee Dispatch 828-497-4131 and ask for the on-call social worker.
The mission of EBCI Public Health & Human Services is “HONORING our Cherokee community by PROVIDING excellent care, PROMOTING health, and SERVING in a culturally respectful way.” Visit our website at https://phhs.ebci-nsn.gov, and follow EBCI PHHS on Facebook (EBCI Public Health & Human Services Division), Instagram (@ebciphhs), and X (@ebciphhs).
