ABOUT US | Meet Our Team

ABOUT US | Meet Our Team
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Mission
History
What is
Our Mission
The West Georgia Child Advocacy Center exists to champion the needs of sexually, physically, and emotionally abused children in Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties through prevention, intervention, therapy, collaboration, and healing.
Our History
On May 17, 2012 County Commission Chair Bill Chappel, Darkness to Light Facilitator Emily Cole, Carrollton City Manager Casey Coleman, Carroll DFCS Director Charlene Harrod, Darkness to Light Facilitator Jill Hesterlee, State Representative Dustin W. Hightower, Carroll County Sheriff Terry Langley, Carrollton Police Chief Joel Richards and District Attorney Pete Skandalakis met at Carrollton Presbyterian Church with Nancy Chandler who represented Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia to discuss the steps that needed to be taken to establish a child advocacy center in Carroll County.
On September 27, 2012 the founding board held their first meeting. Those serving on the founding board were: Andrea Chapman, Emily Cole, Susan Fleck, Vickie Fulbright, Jan Gibbs, Charlene Harrod, Jill Hesterlee, Dusty Hightower, Shonda Jensen, Terry Langley, Bruce Lyon, Michael Mansour, Peter Maierhofer, Joel Richards, Pete Skandalakis, and Danielle Tolbert. On April 15, 2013 Tracy O. Lewis-Martin was hired as a full time director who would also conduct forensic interviews.
On April 25, 2013 a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held with children, grandchildren and young friends of board members of Carroll County Child Advocacy Center, along with Jill Hesterlee, forensic interviewer and Tracy O. Lewis-Martin the director and forensic interviewer, officially opening the facility.
The Carroll County Carroll County Child Advocacy Center continued to grow and develop led by Executive Directors Bethany Dahl and Amanda Carden. In 2024 R. Allen Babcock came on as Executive director and in 2024 the center changed name to the West Georgia Child Advocacy Center to reflect our full Carroll, Haralson and Heard service area.
What Is a Child Advocacy Center?
To understand what a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is, you must understand what children face without one. Without a CAC, the child may end up having to tell the worst story of his or her life over and over again, to doctors, police, lawyers, therapists, investigators, judges, and others. They may have to talk about that traumatic experience in a police station where they think they might be in trouble. Or they may be asked the wrong questions by a well-meaning teacher or other adult that could hurt the case against the abuser.
How The CAC Model Works
To understand what a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is, you must understand what children face without one. Without a CAC, the child may end up having to tell the worst story of his or her life over and over again, to doctors, cops, lawyers, therapists, investigators, judges, and others. They may have to talk about that traumatic experience in a police station where they think they might be in trouble, or may be asked the wrong questions by a well-meaning teacher or other adult that could hurt the case against the abuser.
When police or child protective services believe a child may be experiencing abuse, the child is brought to the CAC—a safe, child-focused environment—by a caregiver or other “safe” adult. At the CAC, the child tells their story once to a trained interviewer who knows the right questions to ask in a way that does not not retraumatize the child. Then, a team that includes medical professionals, law enforcement, mental health, prosecution, child protective services, victim advocacy, and other professionals make decisions together about how to help the child based on the interview. CACs offer therapy and medical exams, plus courtroom preparation, victim advocacy, case management, and other services. This is called the multidisciplinary team (MDT) response and is a core part of the work of CACs.
*Graphic from
National Children's Alliance
Meet Our Team
Team
Our staff is a group of caring, well-trained professionals that are here to support you and your child.
Our Team
Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.
R. Allen Babcock
Executive Director
R. Allen Babcock serves as the Executive Director of WGACAC. Under his leadership, WGACAC has expanded access to forensic interviewing, advocacy, mental health services, and forensic medical care while strengthening regional collaboration to better protect children and support families. In addition to his administrative leadership, Allen also serves the Center as a credentialed ChildFirst® Forensic Interviewer.
Allen returned to Northwest Georgia after more than 20 years of teaching and leading in independent schools across the United States, as well as internationally in Switzerland and China. He completed graduate studies in Organizational Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University, and brings extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, organizational development, and community collaboration. Allen is a frequent presenter on multidisciplinary response and innovative approaches to child protection, sharing the work of WGACAC at conferences and professional trainings across the country.
allen@wgacac.org
Our Team
Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.
Desireé Kendricks
CAC Program Manager
Desireé is also Family Advocate and Forensic Interviewer at WGACAC.  She provides comprehensive support to families in Carroll, Haralson, and Heard Counites.  With a background in case management and a passion for working with children and families, Desiree is dedicated to advocating for her client's best interests.  She completed her RADAR forensic interviewer training in June 2024 and FIND (Forensic Interviewer for Individuals with Disabilities) training in October 2024.
Desireé joined WGACAC in June 2024.  She earned her degree in Social Work from Savannah State University.  She is excited to be back providing services for her home county.  In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and volunteering with her children's extracurricular activities.
desiree@wgacac.org
Our Team
Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.
Allison Robinson
Education Coordinator
Allison is our Education Coordinator and a Forensic Interviewer for WGACAC.  As Education Coordinator, one of Allison's priorities is providing and facilitating the Green Dot training for adults throughout Carroll, Haralson, & Heard counties.  This training teaches adults critical steps for preventing, recognizing, and responding to abuse within their community.  Allison also serves as a Forensic Interviewer who is trained to conduct child forensic interviews for children ages two through 17.
Allison joined us in April 2019 after being employed for eight years as the Program Coordinator for the Carroll County Recreation Department. She holds a degree in Spanish from the University of West Georgia. Allison enjoys spending time with her family, photography, and coaching her children in sports.
allison@wgacac.org
Our Team
Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.
Savanna Knowles
Mental Health Coordinator
Savanna is also a Forensic Interviewer and Family Advocate at WGACAC. As a Family Advocate, she provides on-going support, resources, and intervention services to families and children. She is very passionate about being a voice for ALL children.  In August 2023, Savanna earned her certification in the ChildFirst® Forensic Interview Protocol.
Savanna joined WGACAC in January of 2023 as a senior university student intern, and in April she started her position as a Family Advocate. She is now a graduate from the University of West Georgia with a B.S in Psychology and a minor in Sociology and is currently working on her MSW degree. In her free time, Savanna really enjoys connecting with her family and friends, traveling and sight-seeing, and trying new restaurants.
savanna@wgacac.org
Our Team
Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.
Mariana Reyes
Underserved Populations Lead
Mariana is a Bilingual Family Advocate at the WGACAC who provides on-going support, community resources, and intervention services for families and children who reside in Carroll, Haralson, and Heard counties. Mariana is also a ChildFirst and RADAR credentialed Forensic Interviewer. She is very passionate about this field of work to help children and families find their voice and be their voice when needed.
Mariana joined the WGACAC in January 2024 as a senior university student intern, and in May she started her full-time position as a Family Advocate. She is now a graduate from the University of West Georgia with a B.S. in Psychology and minor in Criminology. She plans on returning to graduate school in the near future. Mariana enjoys hiking, attending concerts, and spending quality time with her husband and pet dog.
mariana@wgacac.org
Our Team
Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.
Christian Sears
Intake Lead
Christian is our Intake Lead and Family Advocate. As Intake Lead and Family Advocate at West Georgia Child Advocacy Center, Christian is often the first point of contact for families navigating difficult circumstances. She brings valuable experience from her work in case management with DFCS and as part of CACGA’s CSEC Response Team. Christian helps guide families through the process—offering support, resources, and connection to services—every step of the way. She is committed to helping children and families feel supported, heard, and safe.
Christian joined the WGACAC in August 2025. She earned her degree in Criminology from the University of West Georgia. She is from West Georgia and is excited to serve her hometown. Christian enjoys spending time with her family and reading during her down time.
christian@wgacac.org
Our Team
Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.
Dorien Lee
Office Lead
Dorien is our Office Lead and also a Family Advocate at the WGACAC. As a Family Advocate he is dedicated to providing support, connection to services, and resources throughout your time at WGACAC. As an Office Lead he is committed to ensuring smooth and positive communication from your family to ours.
Dorien joined WGACAC in January 2026. He is a graduate from Kennesaw State University with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Statistics. In the future, he wishes to pursue graduate studies in Social Work. In his free time, Dorien practices kickboxing, reads, and plays video games. Born in Ohio and raised in Newnan, he is excited to join our team.
dorien@wgacac.org
Our Team
Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.
Autumn Andrews,
BSN, RN
Pediatric SANE
(SANE-P)
(Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner)
Autumn serves as the Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) at the West Georgia Child Advocacy Center. She provides trauma-informed forensic medical care for children who may have experienced abuse, conducting thorough medical examinations while prioritizing each child’s comfort, safety, and emotional well-being. Autumn works closely with the Center’s multidisciplinary team to ensure children receive compassionate care in a supportive environment.
Autumn earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Kennesaw State University and brings a background in Pediatric Intensive Care and trauma-informed care to her work. She is passionate about supporting children and families during difficult moments and helping young patients feel heard, safe, and respected throughout the medical examination process. Autumn plans to continue her education through graduate study focused on pediatric nursing.
autumn@wgacac.org
Our Team
Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.
Diana Faugno,
MSN, RN, CPN, AFN-C, IVSE-C, FAAFS, SANE-A, SANE-P, DF-IAFN, DF-AFN
Pediatric & Adolescent SANE
(Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner)
Diana Faugno is a forensic nurse examiner with decades of experience caring for victims of violence. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with multidisciplinary teams to provide trauma-informed medical care for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking, strangulation, and elder abuse. Her work focuses on improving the medical response to violence and ensuring survivors receive compassionate, evidence-based care.
Diana holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Dakota and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix. She is a founding board director of End Violence Against Women International and has served in leadership roles with several national forensic nursing organizations. Diana has conducted thousands of forensic examinations and regularly provides training and consultation to professionals across the country on forensic medical response and multidisciplinary collaboration.
diana@dianafaugno.com
Our Team
Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.
Brooke Cornell
BSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN, SANE-A
Adolescent SANE
(Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner)
Brooke Cornell serves as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner supporting the forensic medical response for survivors of violence. She provides compassionate, trauma-informed care and conducts medical forensic examinations while working closely with advocacy, medical, and investigative partners to ensure patients receive expert care and thoughtful support.
Brooke is a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department at Tanner Health and played a key leadership role in establishing Tanner’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program. Working alongside community partners, she helped develop the hospital-based response that now provides specialized forensic medical care for survivors of sexual assault in West Georgia. Her experience in emergency and trauma care informs her work as a forensic nurse, helping ensure patients receive skilled medical treatment in a safe, respectful, and supportive environment.
bcornell@tanner.org
Our Team
Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.
AnneMarie Reed
Counseling Intern
AnneMarie is a Counseling Intern at the West Georgia Child Advocacy Center. She provides trauma-informed therapeutic support for children and caregivers, helping them process difficult experiences and build healthy coping skills. AnneMarie also helps coordinate group programs that create supportive spaces for children, teens, and caregivers to connect, heal, and grow.
AnneMarie joined the Center in January 2026 as a practicum student in the Mental Health Counseling program at the University of West Georgia and will graduate with her M.Ed. in December 2026. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in College Student Personnel. Prior to joining WGACAC, AnneMarie worked in several roles at state universities across the country, advocating for students’ educational, social, and health needs as they pursued their academic goals.
AnneMarie enjoys walking, hiking, crafting, and spending time with her family.
annemarie@wgacac.org
Our Team
Meet the warm, welcoming folks who work with you and your child.
Jasmine Ray
Psychology Intern
Jasmine is a junior at the University of West Georgia, pursuing a bachelor's degree in psychology. In addition to interning at the West Georgia Child Advocacy Center, she serves as a Resident Assistant (RA), fostering a supportive and inclusive community for fellow students at her University. Passionate about advocating for children's mental well-being, Jasmine has a goal to create safe spaces where children feel heard, supported, and empowered.
Jasmine plans to further her education beyond a bachelor's degree to make a lasting impact in the field of psychology. In her free time, she loves to read, travel, try new restaurants, and spend time with her loved ones.
jasmine@wgacac.org
Board
Board of Directors
Dr. Tim Thomas -
Chair
Physician,
Tanner Health System
Kevin Bush - Treasurer
Finance Director,
City of Carrollton
Jill Hesterlee
Community Member
Pam Uglum
Business Owner,
Deloach Management Inc.
Jennifer Dobbs
Executive Director,
Haralson Family Connections
Emily Cole
Board Emeritus
Community Member
Tabitha Walker - Vice Chair
Principal
Carrollton Upper Elementary
Samantha McKinney
Transit Director
Heard County
Meghan Sullivan
Community Member
Betty Cason
Mayor
City of Carrollton
Maggie Meetze
Attorney,
Carroll County
Christie Laney - Secretary
Community Member
Baylee Cates
Clinical Instructor,
University of West Georgia
Lori Tuggle
Community Member
Joel Richards
Chief,
Carrollton Police Department
Dr. Allison Key
ex officio - Medical Director
3:16 Family Medicine
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