New Hope's Place exec has a heart for the job

Erica Brown takes helm of agency that helps young sexual assault victims

Tammie Hetzer-Womack The Independent

ASHLAND — In her own words, Erica Brown describes a little girl’s agony. Ripped from her home and placed in foster care, she was rescued from her sexual abusers, but it’s tough.

“It’s like you took a child’s world, turned it upside down and shook it,” said Brown, describing the road to safety and solace.

Brown is the new executive director of Hope’s Place, the Ashland agency that helps child sexual assault victims. Youngsters find help starting with the initial exam. Bright colors and murals push away the scary, clinical atmosphere, while children play with toys, watch cartoons and eat snacks. All the furniture is kid-sized, so communication with adults is at a child’s eye level, which empowers the young victim.

“They find healing and feel like they’re gathering control of their lives,” Brown said.

At 31, Brown is young to serve in an executive post, but she is a seasoned voice of victims and the vulnerable. The Greenup County native started out as a Pathways case manager, working with patients coping with mental disabilities. She spent more than three years at the Safe Harbor domestic violence shelter as an advocate and clinical coordinator before heading to Hope’s Place three years ago.

Once there, Brown completed more than 700 forensic interviews, speaking one on one with young sexual assault victims, helping build strong cases against alleged predators.

“I wanted to be the one grownup who gives a child a positive experience through all the hell they’re going through. … It’s unbelievable what people do to kids.”

The Ashlander calls herself “an agent to healing,” saying although the job is hard-hitting — she often goes home to cry in private — she realizes her work is critical.

Last year, Hope’s Place performed 74 medical exams and 257 forensic interviews, counseling 577 victims younger than 18, along with  nonoffending family members.

“We hate to be here. We hate to provide services. But as long as the numbers dictate, we’ll be here for kids,” she said.

Brown took the reins from Pam Huweiler on April 16. Huweiler returned to her native Missouri to tend to aging parents. The outgoing executive director offered a bit of advice to her smart and strong-willed successor.

“She told me every decision should come to the mission of Hope’s Place,” Brown said. “Pam ran Hope’s Place with class and integrity. I want to maintain that same integrity and provide continued services, making the community aware of child sexual abuse.”

Planning to serve as “the face of Hope’s Place,” she plans to reach out even more, visiting local clubs and organizations to speak about the mission to lend a hand to struggling children. Brown is optimistic schools will invite her to classrooms — a place where many victimized youngsters and teens often sit silently.

“When we talk to them, we tell them the problem can’t end until they ask for help,” Brown said. “When it happens, kids have to tell. We understand it’s a hard secret, but there are people who can help get them out of the situation. We can never stop talking about the problem.”

She said children can go to school counselors, pastors and coaches for advice and comfort. Then Hope’s Place can help children fight back.

Brown’s No. 1 goal is to partner with more social service agencies and community groups. She points to the need for more physicians to perform sexual assault exams. At present, there are only two doctors who volunteer at the downtown center that operates on a $400,000 annual budget.

Brown also said she will continue banging the drum for funds. The recent annual Chocolate Extravaganza raised close to a record-high $8,000.

Brown is hitting the ground running with her new assignment.

“I’m a hometown girl, born and raised in Greenup County, so I have ties to this community. I never want to move away. I just want to make a difference here,” she said.

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