children provide their statements in a non-threatening or frightening environment. As she
proudly pointed out the audio/visual investigative equipment carefully camouflaged within
colorful murals, I had no idea the significance of the actions required to create this place.
This center came about as a result of collaboration among many organizations and is run by
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). According to WBL documents, supporting this
effort led to many disappointing years with no success. Margaret Ransone and Nancy Simoneaux
refused to give up and continued to make connections with elected and appointed officials, the
police department, and leaders of other child advocacy groups. Finally, some of them met over
breakfast and CASA offered to sponsor the initiative. The WBL donated most of the audio/visual
equipment as well as other necessary items. According to a letter from the center’s program
manager, the number of children served has grown tenfold since opening in 1999.
20
This growth
is not the result of an increase in sexual/physical abuse but is a direct result of better service
coordination. Nereida Levine indicates in a letter to Ms. Simoneaux and Ms. Ransone that this
growth is a direct result of community support from the WBL, and cooperation between the New
Orleans Police Department (NOPD), the Office of Community Services, the Orleans Parish
District Attorney’s Office, Children’s Hospital, and the University of New Orleans.
21
Through attending meetings to gather information and letter writing campaigns, Nancy
Simoneaux has also played a role in the following accomplishments:
•
getting the neutral ground between West End and Pontchartrain Boulevards in
Orleans Parish dedicated as the New Basin Canal Park with a monument
20
The CAC began conducting forensic interviews in 1999. During that year, they interviewed 28 child victims of
sexual/physical abuse. In 2003, 236 interviews were conducted.
21
A copy of this letter dated April 19, 2004 was forwarded to me by Mrs. Simoneaux.
Convention