Protecting our children is this woman’s passion

Local News

May 13, 2008

By Susan Brittingham The McAlester News-Capital Tue May 13, 2008, 10:32 AM CDT

There is one driving force in this determined young woman’s life: protecting defenseless children.

“I’ll stand up for the right thing, even if it makes somebody mad,” Jessica Gilliam said. “The child is the most important thing. We’ve got to protect the children.”

Gilliam was recently honored as A Friend of Child Advocacy by the Pittsburg County Child Advocacy Board for spending most of her adult life protecting children. “It was a surprise to be nominated, but when I got to thinking about it, I realized that I’m not talented, like musically or anything, but I am good with children.

“I will protect children. I guess that’s my talent. That’s what I’m good at.”

After all, “my entire career has basically been working with children. I worked as a campus police officer at McAlester, and I worked as a child welfare investigator for DHS for six months. Now I work with children through the district attorney’s office as a child sexual abuse forensic interviewer.

“We have got to protect our children, and that’s what I’m here to do.”

Gilliam’s job could make some people cry. Every day she goes to work and, on more days than most people would like to believe, has to console a child who has been physically or sexually abused.

She has to let that child know that he or she didn’t do anything wrong and that the person who did the wrong thing won’t be able to do it again.

How often does she have to do that? So many that it’s more than she’d care to admit out loud. Gilliam doesn’t like to look at statistics — especially since she has to live with their effects every day — but she does know that Pittsburg County has the highest child abuse rate in the state.

And Oklahoma is ranked third in the nation for child abuse.

“It’s unbelievable when you see the court docket,” she said. “The child abuse cases are heard on the last Thursday of the month and they last all day long.

“It’s nothing for them to start at 9 in the morning and carry on past 5 in the evening.

“And most of these families only come in every three months, so what you’re seeing are new people, new abuse cases, every week.

“It’s just unreal.”

While some of those cases are sexual in nature, some stem from parents who have drugs in the home and from medical neglect. “It’s just amazing how some people will treat children,” Gilliam said. “I have a child of my own now, and it’s hard to imagine treating a child that way.”

As a child sexual abuse forensic interviewer, Gilliam talks with young children and listens as they recount past horrors.

She went to Minnesota back in 2000 for the specialized training. “I was one of the first in the county,” she recalled.

“It’s a hard job at times, but I feel very strongly about what I’m doing.

“All I want to do is help children, and that’s what I get to do every day.”

Contact Susan Brittingham at 421-2029 or e-mail sbrittingham@mcalesternews.com.

Text Only

Local News

McAlester New-Capital's junior reporters tell all
Globe-trotting, from McAlester to Japan

On Feb. 6, I had the pleasure of meeting two of the Harlem Globetrotters. Handles, who is 6’ 1,” wasn’t very tall compared to Stretch, who is 7’ 2”. ...

Living the dream

On Monday, the Harlem Globetrotters came to McAlester to play some basketball. Before the game, I had the honor to interview center “Stretch” Middleton and guard “Handles” Franklin. ...

February 10, 2012 6 Photos 1 Story
Shelter Documentary

On Thursdaythe Good Samaritan Outreach Shelter for Men was featured in a documentary by the First United Methodist Church in McAlester. Pictured from left is Thursday. Pictured from left is Chris Symes associate pastor of the First Methodist Church, Stephen LeFlore shelter director and Bill Derichsweiler shelter treasurer.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Man involved with recent meth lab explosion pleads guilty
A McAlester man who was recently involved with a local meth lab explosion pleaded guilty Friday in Pittsburg County District Court.

February 9, 2012 4 Photos
McAlester sets first-ever TEAM meet
Something new is in store for McAlester — a meeting to bring together many of the major organizations in the city.

February 8, 2012
McAlester's Make a Difference Day project is finalist for award
McAlester’s Make a Difference Day project was recently selected as a finalist for this year’s “Encore,” award, which was just renamed the “All-Star Award.”

February 8, 2012
All Saints' Episcopal to hold craft and chocolate sale
The men and women of All Saints’ Episcopal Church are hand-crafting goodies and gifts for the community to purchase for a loved one this Valentine’s Day.

February 7, 2012 3 Photos
Rowe seeks road less-traveled
Dustin Rowe believes he’s taking the road less traveled — at least among the current slate of Republican Second District Congressional candidates.

February 7, 2012
Local hotel guests charged with child abuse
A couple that was staying at a local hotel have been arrested and charged with child abuse.

February 7, 2012 2 Photos
OSP names officer/supervisor of year for 2011
The Oklahoma State Penitentiary recently released the names of their 2011 employees of the year.

February 7, 2012 4 Photos
Eufaula housekeeper accused of theft
A Eufaula housekeeper has been accused of stealing checks from a home in Longtown and forging them to buy groceries, gas and pay an electric bill.

February 7, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

It's awards season? Which 85th Academy Award nominated movie for Best Picture is your fave?

Local News

Search Results

Protecting our children is this woman’s passion

It's awards season? Which 85th Academy Award nominated movie for Best Picture is your fave?

Site Map

Contact Us