Niki Whitaker has served as the executive director of CARE House for three years, and already she has seen both the need and the value of the child advocacy center.

“Seeing the outcome of our work is just amazing,” Whitaker said. “Sitting down with a child after they have gone through a traumatic experience and have to talk about some tough stuff, and then seeing them later when they come back for counseling and seeing how much we have helped them is amazing.”

CARE House, which has locations in Bay Minette and Summerdale, offers a myriad of services to Baldwin County children suffering from abuse, neglect and maltreatment.

According to Whitaker, in 2013, employees and volunteers at CARE House performed 256 interviews, over 1,000 counseling sessions, 250 family counseling sessions and 50 court school sessions.

Whitaker said there is a great need for the services CARE House provides, despite the fact most people don’t want to think abuse and neglect occur in their community.

“There is a stigma attached with child abuse, and people don’t want to think that is a problem here in Baldwin County, but it does,” Whitaker said. “We have a good strong board and a great staff that are doing our part to combat these issues.”

Along with offering services to children who have gone through various forms of abuse, CARE House also organizes programs at area schools aimed at preventing abuse and neglect.

Whitaker said a prevention coordinator traverses the county to speak with children about ways they can avoid, or report, abuse.

“We are able to reach thousands of local children through our prevention program, and that lets them know different ways to stay safe,” Whitaker said. “It’s important for kids to know what’s safe and what’s not safe.”

Whitaker said the biggest need of CARE House, which is partially funded by the United Way of Baldwin County, is finding funding to continue to provide services to local children.

“Constantly trying to locate funding, but grants are tight, and fundraisers aren’t always a huge success,” Whitaker said. “It didn’t take me long to understand how fiscally conservative we really were. We watch every dime and every dollar. Trying to reach our budget every year is a tough task.”

There are two fundraisers set to benefit the organization in October.

On Oct. 4, a portion of the proceeds from the first Gulf Coast Gospel Jubilee will benefit CARE House, as well as Lighthouse abuse center. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the soccer fields at the Foley Sports Complex.

Whitaker said a four-course dinner and wine event is being held at Gilbey’s Seafood and Steak in Orange Beach on Oct. 23, which will also benefit CARE House.

More information about CARE House can be found at www.bccarehouse.org.