Jade Beasley Butterfly Bush Memorial

The Butterfly Effect

On April 21st at 2:30 PM, as a living tribute and support for the Jade Marie Beasley Speak Life Foundation, the FWCAC planted a butterfly bush at our Center in memory of Jade Beasley.

​

Jade's case embodies what the Multidisciplinary Team Model CAC's are designed around is intended to do. It involved intense collaboration with various law enforcement agencies, DCFS, mental health and medical providers, and the State’s Attorney office. Jade’s case illustrates the importance of having strong, collaborative relationships between departments involved in child abuse, neglect, and death investigations and the FWCAC is grateful to work with a team full of professionals who have such a passion for serving the children in our community.

​

The Jade Marie Beasley Speak Life Foundation assisted in organizing this event and many of Jade's family, friends, and community members were in attendance. Her siblings were also present and cut the ribbon for the butterfly bush.

​

After the ceremony, the FWCAC hosted an open house for those in attendance to gain insight on how the CAC assists child abuse victims and their families.

​

The FWCAC would like to thank Jade’s family and friends, our community members, MDT partners, and board members for such a beautiful afternoon celebrating and honoring Jade’s life.

If you were unable to make it out this afternoon, please take the time and read the message below, which was shared by our Executive Director, Sarah Anderson.

“This butterfly bush has been planted in memory of Jade Beasley, a child abuse victim whose life was lost way too soon. Jade was a daughter, friend, sister, and a fighter. Her short, but impactful life is one to be celebrated and remembered, and that is our hope today.

CAC’s are designed around a Multidisciplinary Team Model, and Jade's case embodies how a successful MDT is intended to function. It involved intense collaboration with various law enforcement agencies, DCFS, mental health, medical providers, and the State’s Attorney office. Her case illustrates the importance of having strong, collaborative relationships between departments involved in child abuse, neglect, and death investigations. Our Center is honored to work with a team full of professionals who have such a passion for serving the children in our community.

It is no coincidence that Jade’s family chose butterfly bushes to plant as a memorial. While they’re a beautiful piece, blooming with Jade’s favorite colors, sparking joy around our community in a time where the smallest bits of happiness are much needed, they remind us of the butterfly effect – that the flap of a butterfly’s wings can spark tiny changes, and those tiny changes ultimately trigger monumental effects on a wide scale. It is without doubt that Jade’s story shares that same potential.

In our 31 years of service, we have served over 5,000 child victims of abuse. Last year alone, our Center interviewed 169 child victims. 169 families walked through this front door. Our Forensic Interviewers listened to 169 brave children share their story – some with shaky voices and tear-filled eyes as they relived events still so fresh in their minds, some with confidence and empowerment, ready to take back what was lost. Our Advocates sat in the waiting room with 169 parents or caregivers and explained the journey that was ahead of them. 169 times, DCFS and/or law enforcement pulled into our parking lot, ready to kick start another investigation.

Whenever I am out at an event and someone admits they have never heard of a Child Advocacy Center, I feel mixed emotions. Internally, I do a little happy dance, celebrating their child has never needed our resources. But I’m also upset. Frustrated we haven’t recruited every member of our community in our fight against child abuse, that we haven’t spread enough awareness and shined a bright enough light on the abuse that is taking place behind so many closed doors.

It is important that we carry on Jade’s legacy, fighting to keep her memory alive, and helping her story trigger changes within our community. Teaching children body safety and self-defense, rallying active bystanders who will speak up when something feels wrong, educating others on the warning signs of abuse. Ultimately, recruiting more and more community members in our fight against child abuse.

So as we stand here today, let us remember that one single event, one person’s story, has the power to create worldwide changes. And now that Jade has earned her beautiful butterfly wings, our hope is her wings will flap, making small changes in those who hear her story, and those small changes will trigger monumental effects on a wide scale, creating a safer community that is committed to the fight against child abuse.”