Finding her place in child advocacy

When Kim Bevis was earning her master’s in social work, she stood up in class one day and made a bold declaration.

“I don’t think I ever really want to work with kids,” she told her classmates.

At the time, Bevis was working in public health with plans to remain in that field or transition to mental health work. Children’s advocacy seemed too emotionally heavy — too many painful realities she wasn’t sure she could bear.

Then a week later, a statewide layoff within the Alabama Department of Human Health changed everything.

“I was working for the state and had the option to transfer to the Department of Human Resources,” she said. “So, don’t ever say ‘never.’” What began as an unexpected career turn became her life’s work.

Bevis stayed with DHR as she finished her master’s degree at Alabama A&M. Then she found work with a therapeutic program for foster parents and children. From there, she took a position as director for the Brooks’ Place Child Advocacy Center in Cullman, a role she kept for 10 years until a similar position opened up closer to home.

Today, Bevis is the executive director of The Cramer Children’s Center in Florence, one of Alabama’s largest child advocacy centers (CAC).

The Cramer Center serves between 350 and 400 children each year — placing it consistently among the top five busiest centers in the state. In 2023, it served more children than any other CAC in Alabama.

The center covers Lauderdale, Colbert, Lawrence and Franklin counties, working closely with law enforcement, the district attorney’s office, schools, DHR, and juvenile probation to ensure cases of abuse are addressed.

“The CAC model is typically one center per county, but because we serve four counties, that’s why our numbers are higher,” Bevis said.

She added that the center covers that large a region, not because of a lack of resources in north Alabama, but rather because the work happening in Florence speaks for itself.

“We attribute it to the fact that our multidisciplinary team partners so closely with local law enforcement, the DA’s office and the schools,” she said. “They all know we’re here, and they know how to make referrals to us. A big part of what we do is awareness and education. That’s why we’re able to serve those kids, and it’s not because abuse isn’t happening in other areas. The abuse is always there, unfortunately.”

Her staff of eight works daily with children and families navigating the trauma of physical and sexual abuse, and they serve children who have been a witness to violence.

Bevis said statistics show that one in four girls and one in six boys will experience some form of sexual abuse. As daunting as those numbers are, she knows the work done at CACs like the Cramer Center is crucial.

One way she combats that emotional burden is by constantly checking in with herself and her staff.

“You have to take time for self-care,” Bevis said. “I make sure my staff has space to talk about the things they’ve seen and heard. We do team-building activities, we check in with each other, and sometimes we just take a day to get away — like recently, when we rented a pontoon boat and spent the day on the water.”

For Bevis, personal downtime means traveling, being near the water, and spending time with her grandchildren.

One of Bevis’ current priorities at her job is establishing a junior board, formally called Cramer’s Young Advisory Circle. The idea came to her at a statewide conference of child advocacy center directors, where she learned how successful similar boards had been elsewhere.

“Our main board is wonderful, but they’re all professional and very busy people,” Bevis said, explaining that a junior board can take on fundraising and awareness projects while building a connection to the center early in their careers.

The Young Advisory Circle will be made up of members ages 21 to 40, who can later transition to the main board if they choose. Their duties will include organizing fundraisers and representing the center in the community.

Bevis is clear about the center’s practical needs. While toys and children’s clothing are often donated in abundance, everyday items like cleaning supplies, toilet paper, sanitizing wipes, and office essentials like copy paper are in constant demand.

“Those are the things we go through quickly,” she said. “Those are always the most essential items we need. We have a list on our website that we direct people to if they want to help by donating.”

Another recent initiative, the Spaces for Hope campaign, invites individuals or businesses to sponsor specific rooms within the center. Modeled after a program at the National Child Advocacy Center in Huntsville, it’s both a fundraiser and a way to foster community investment in the center’s mission.

“So far, we’ve had three or four rooms sponsored,” Bevis said. “It’s been fairly successful, and it makes people feel like they’re part of the work we’re doing here.”

After more than 20 years in child advocacy, Bevis has no plans to walk away. She credits the work’s impact for keeping her committed.

“You know, we see these kids come in to tell their story, and they’re all terrible. Every child’s story is heartbreaking,” she said. “But we offer therapy, and you see that child go through those steps. You see that progression and that they are healing. When you see them get better, you know, what we’ve done has helped make a difference.”