Northern Kentucky Children’s Advocacy Center Executive Director Vickie Henderson marked 30 years of personal dedication, unlimited compassion and boundless energy to the children of NKY last month.
Mayor of Florence Diane Whalen issued a proclamation naming August 9 Vickie Henderson Day in Florence in recognition of her 30 years service to the Children of Northern Kentucky. The proclamation states “Vickie continues to serve as a beacon of hope for abused children everywhere and serves as an example, inspiration and leader to all who know her.”
“There is no one more dedicated in the fight to protect Kentucky’s children than Vickie Henderson. For those kids who have suffered horrible abuse, both physical and sexual, Vickie is their protector, she is their champion,” said Campbell County Commonwealth Attorney Michelle Snodgrass. Snodgrass has worked with Henderson for years and she also sits on the Board of Directors at NKYCAC. Over the last 30 years, her goal has always been the same – to end the trauma for the children she sees, so that when they walk out of the center, they know they are not just victims, but they are survivors,” added Snodgrass.
Senator Wil Schroeder presented Henderson with a proclamation from the Kentucky Senate to recognize and honor her 30 years of service, and Representative Rachel Roberts presented Henderson with a Career Achievement Award from the Kentucky House of Representatives.
Henderson also received a Kentucky Colonel honor from Governor Andy Beshear. The commission of Kentucky Colonel is the highest honor bestowed by the Governor of Kentucky.
Vickie Henderson conducted her first forensic interview in 1992, becoming the first forensic interviewer employed by a children’s advocacy center in Kentucky. Since then, Henderson has conducted over 5,000 child forensic interviews, was instrumental in forming the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kentucky, lobbied, and testified before the state legislature, wrote CAC related state statutes, and inspired all those around her to advocate and crusade for children who have been abused.
Throughout her career, her leadership and vision moved NKYCAC from a hospital-based organization to the first center in Kentucky to gain National Children’s Alliance accreditation and advanced the Center from a grassroots effort to a thriving agency that is a model for other centers in Kentucky and beyond. In 2008 in collaboration with the cities of Florence and Ft. Thomas she worked to obtain community block grant funding to build the current NKYCAC in Florence which was the first free-standing custom-built CAC in the Commonwealth.
Henderson’s impact stretches nationally as she worked with the National Children’s Alliance for years as a site reviewer, traveling to other CACs to evaluate and strengthen their services. She is continually expanding her knowledge and bringing new concepts back to Kentucky to improve operations and ensure best practices at CAC. She has made it her life’s work to provide child victims with the most effective and compassionate services, so they have the opportunity to achieve a successful and healthy life.
Florence-based CAC is a nonprofit organization that provides services to more than 800 children annually who have been sexually abused and severely physically abused and have witnessed violent crimes.
Northern Kentucky Children’s Advocacy Center