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Charla Miller

TAHLEQUAH, OK - Charla Miller is a wife, mother of two, a life-long resident of Stilwell, Oklahoma and a child abuse investigator for Cherokee Nation. She is a certified Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Professional and will soon become the first person at Cherokee Nation to be certified as a Child Sexual Abuse Specialist.

Miller grew up knowing that she wanted to spend her life helping those who could not help themselves. Her early goal in life was to be a prosecutor, but she soon realized that her true 'life-calling' was to help victims.

Miller has spent nearly twenty years working with the women and children who are victims of domestic violence and assault. She began as a paralegal working in a law office but eventually moved to Help In Crisis.

"I wanted to work directly with women and children", said Miller. "For me, it's always been important to touch lives and work hands-on with people who are hurting."

In December of 2001, Miller left Help In Crisis and joined the Indian Child Welfare staff of the Cherokee Nation.

"While abuse is not limited to any race, social or economic group, I felt a pull to help Cherokee women and children. I'm a Cherokee and wanted to help the people who are important to me," Miller said. "Working in the community where I grew up is very rewarding. Everyday I have the opportunity to make a difference in someone's life. We become a friend, advocate, and liaison. We are with them through the rape exam, we offer counseling, we work with their attorney and with the court system."

Miller realized the importance of court advocacy and worked hard to achieve her certification as a Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Professional in March of 2002.

"Working in the court system is a huge burden," said Miller. "We're talking about the lives of women and children. It's up to me to put together a case that will hold up in court."

Miller is currently working toward her certification as a Child Sexual Abuse Specialist. "There's a lot of confusion about what child abuse really is. The law states that child abuse is sexually abusing a child, physically abusing a child, neglecting a child, or environmental abuse. Child abuse is a serious, vicious cycle that must be stopped," added Miller.

Statistics prove that boys that are abused become perpetrators as a child or an adult. Abused girls are prone to always be a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and rape.

In an attempt to end abuse, Miller also works with Adair County law enforcement developing and updating their Sex Offender Registry. An individual convicted of a sex related crime is required by law to register with local law enforcement and to update their file every six months.

According to Miller's supervisor, Sandy Edgmon, once Miller is certified as a Child Sexual Abuse Specialist she will be recognized by the court system as an expert in the field of child abuse.

"Having this certification puts Charla and the Cherokee Nation in an elite fleet of highly respected professionals, said Edgmon. "This is a really good thing for our clients."

Although Miller admits that the job is demanding, stressful and sometimes sad, she says that it also brings many rewards.

"I've walked down the street and had little children come up to me and hug me really tight and say 'thank you'. That thank you is worth everything. It lets me know that we're making a difference. It helps me keep working," said Miller.

For more information about Indian Child Welfare of other programs within the Division of Children, Youth, and Family Services of the Cherokee Nation, please call, 918-456-0671 (ext.2220).