ABOUT US

We Are Lotus

“Just like the lotus, we too have the ability to rise from the mud, bloom out of the darkness, and radiate into the world.”

– Unknown

Our Strategic Framework

VISION

FREEDOM FROM OPPRESSION & VIOLENCE FOR ALL

VALUES

RESILIENCE, EMPOWERMENT, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION

MISSION

SUPPORT SURVIVORS. STRENGTHEN FAMILIES. EMPOWER COMMUNITIES.

IMPROVE SAFETY, HEALING & JUSTICE FOR SURVIVORS

Facilitate an effective community response through multidisciplinary collaboration

Provide specialized CAC & SVRC intervention, therapeutic & restorative services

Expand meaningful access through an accessible, culturally relevant & trauma-informed approach

Empower survivors as engaged participants & leaders

FOSTER FAMILY & YOUTH RESILIENCE

Cultivate a collaborative network of strength based support

Promote safe, stable, nurturing relationships & environments for children & families

Increase protective factors & reduce risk factors

Reduce likelihood of child abuse & neglect

Enhance child development

CULTIVATE JUST, EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES WHERE ALL PERSONS THRIVE

Build a visible network of support for survivors, families & allies especially for those underserved and exploited in our society

Inform, educate & engage people to take action

Recognize, reveal & address inequity & disparity

Celebrate the resilience of people surviving & thriving creatively in spite of oppression

Invoke shared values, deepen understanding, & amplify our collective impact

END CHILD ABUSE & SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Lotus is Kentucky’s designated Children’s Advocacy and Sexual Violence Resource Center for the Purchase Area Region. Our mission is to support survivors, strengthen families, and empower communities. At Lotus, we see the goal of recovery as not only surviving trauma but also opening up to the possibilities of hope, healing, and growth.

Lotus is committed to ending child abuse and sexual violence. We are working to cultivate a collective, unified community that meets survivors with compassion and a culture that simply does not tolerate interpersonal violence.

Our History

1984

Our efforts began in 1984 when Western Baptist emergency room nurses recognized a need. Western Baptist then installed a 24-hour helpline and volunteers were trained to assist and support victims. This was just the beginning. Educational programs began throughout the community and survivors of sexual offenses were offered counseling, medical assistance and legal guidance.

1987

The Western Baptist Hospital and the Paducah Cooperative Ministry Rape Victim Service, Inc. was established.

1990s

During the 90’s we expanded our services and established our Paducah campus sexual abuse center on a beautiful new campus and offered more services in the Murray-Calloway County area.L

2007

We assumed the designation from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services as the regional children’s advocacy program and established Kentucky’s first Expressive Arts Therapies Center dedicated to working with victims of violence.

2018

We changed our name to Lotus, reflecting the exceptional courage, strength, and resilience of survivors and symbolizing enlightenment and reawakening to embody our community initiatives.L

We also established our Holistic Healing Center which provides a safe, nurturing environment and supports a holistic approach to healing and wellness.L

2019

We underwent our GROW Lotus renovation and addition of our main campus in Paducah. The purposeful design of the structures and grounds of our campus supports highly specialized intervention and restorative services as well as our community outreach and education initiatives. Our Sanctuary Project promotes health outcomes by fostering enhanced tranquility and therapeutic experience through green spaces specifically designed throughout our Paducah campus to meet the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of survivors and families.

Present

Lotus launched the Hope Heal Grow Mobile, the first mobile children’s advocacy center in the state, in 2022. As we continue to innovate our outreach and expand access to critical, life-saving services, we will open our Mayfield office in 2023.L

Meet Our Team

Lori Wells Brown, MS

Executive Director

270-534-4422 ext. 19

Karen Durbin, CPA

Director of Finance

270-534-4422 ext. 12

Amberly Haverstock

Director of Specialized Services

270-534-4422 ext. 32

Caroline Glynn Neal

Director of Community Relations

270-534-4422 ext. 20

CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER TEAM

Nichole Wadley, MS, LPA

Forensic Specialist & Team Lead

270-534-4422 ext. 15

Sarah Grimsley

MDT Coordinator

270-534-4422 ext. 23

Megan Meade

Family Advocate

270-534-4422 ext. 18

Bethany Vaughn

Family Advocate

270-534-4422 ext. 34

ADVOCACY TEAM

Ivette Cope

Access Healing Advocate & Advocacy Team Lead

270-534-4422

 

Megan Bell

Survivor Advocate

270-534-4422 ext. 22

 

Forrest Hamilton

Advocacy Support Specialist

270-534-4422 ext. 21

 

THERAPY TEAM

Amanda Harris, LCSW

Therapist & Therapy Team Lead

270-534-4422 ext. 33

Taylor Daugherty, CSW

Therapist

270-534-4422 ext. 24

 

Charis L. Gurrola, LPCC

Therapist

270-534-4422 ext. 16

Olivia Lanier, CSW

Therapist

270-534-4422 ext. 13

Ashley Wilson, MA, LPA

Therapist

270-534-4422 ext. 28

SUPPORT STAFF

Jamie Fisher

Service Coordinator

270-534-4422 ext. 10

Jamie Zaim

Program Support Specialist

270-534-4422 ext. 27

COMMUNITY TEAM

Caroline Glynn Neal

Director of Community Relations

270-534-4422 ext. 20

Paris Jones

Outreach & Education Specialist

270-534-4422 ext. 37

Hadley Purcell

Outreach & Education Specialist

270-534-4422 ext. 29

JOIN OUR TEAM

Grow your career at Lotus! We offer competitive benefits including:

  • Health, dental, and vision coverage
  • Generous paid time off and 11 paid holidays
  • Life and AD&D insurance
  • Retirement plan
  • Abundant training opportunities
  • Wellbeing resources, including access to Expressive Arts and Therapies Center, Holistic Healing Center, and a tranquil outdoor sanctuary
Forensic Interviewer

Position Purpose:  

The Forensic Interviewer serves to facilitate healing and recovery from interpersonal violence for child and adolescent victim-survivors through the provision of specialized forensic interview services.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Provide specialized forensic interviews to child and adolescent victim-survivors.
  • Create mental health focused resources for victims-survivors to promote resilience and strengthen protective factors.
  • Collaborate with CAC teammates and community partners to provide comprehensive case management.
  • Engage in professional development opportunities to ensure the highest quality of care to clients is being provided.

Prior Education & Training Requirements:

The Forensic Interviewer is required to have:

  • A doctorate or master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a mental health, education, human services, or criminal justice field;
  • Two (2) years of post-degree counseling or clinical experience; and
  • Three (3) years of experience working with children.

Position Qualifications & Special Skills Required:

  • No prior history of criminal behaviors is a requirement.
  • Excellent written, interpersonal, and oral communication skills
  • Ability to interface and engage with diverse populations
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills
  • Works well in a team environment
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office/Teams; Collaborate; TTY machine, Stratus Video Equipment, and Pacific Interpreters Language Line; Zoom; and ease in adaptation to new technology
  • Working knowledge of trauma and multiple evidence-based modalities for specialized outpatient treatment of victims
  • Working knowledge of forensic interview protocols
  • Experience utilizing and interpreting mental health screeners and assessments
  • Two (2) years of post-degree counseling or clinical experience and Three (3) years of experience interviewing children
  • Experience in conducting mental health screenings and making clinical recommendations

    Professional Benefits: Professional development assistance

    Work Location:Works primarily from the Paducah office location and regional community settings as needed including Mobile Unit locations; works remotely with supervisory approval.

    Work Schedule: 40-hour work week with supervisor-approved schedule to meet position responsibilities.

    Travel Requirements: Travel to regional community settings and state/national meetings and training as needed.

    Job Type: Full-time

    Pay: $48,000 – $55,000 per year

    All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

    How To Apply

    Please email cover letter and resume to [email protected] with “Forensic Interviewer” in the subject line.

    We’re Hiring!

    “I love working for an organization whose values align with my own. Lotus cares about their staff and has provided me with the support and opportunities I need to grow personally and professionally.”

    Lotus Therapist

    LOTUS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    Lotus is currently seeking dynamic and diverse leaders to serve on our Board of Directors. Do you share our collective values? Do you have skill sets and perspectives that align with our strategies, goals, and needs necessary to successfully advance our Lotus mission?

    Misty Cates

    Chair

    Harrah’s Casino
    Financial Controller

    Ashley Parrott

    Chair-elect

    Baptist Health
    Director of Operations

    Jamie Walker

    Secretary

    Independence Bank
    Trust Assistant

    Dawn Mason

    Treasurer

    BFW
    Accounting Manager

    Tiffany Benberry

    Self-Employed
    Mental Health Counselor

    Angela Copeland

    Paducah Independent Schools
    Director of Finance

    Reis Driver

    Baptist Health
    Director, Business Development

    Dr. Stephanie Ford

    Murray State University
    Assistant Professor,
    Middle School Education

    Rae Hall

    Paducah Bank & Trust Co.
    Teammate Experience Manager/HR Generalist
     

    Steven Luther

    Baptist Health
    Associate Vice President, Operations

    Shannon Pace

    Paducah Bank & Trust Co.
    Small Business Relationship Manager
     

    Tennille Rushing

    Mercy Health
    Vice President of Medical Group Operations

    Tiffany Scott

    Baptist Health
    Director of Operations

    Mark Thompson

    BFW Engineering
    Business Development

    Anna Turner-Abernathy

    Ballard County Ambulance Service
    Assistant Director

    Lori Wells Brown

    Ex-Officio Member

    Lotus
    Executive Director