Haywood County has over a thirty year history of combatting adverse childhood experiences. Noted as the number one county in the state of North Carolina for numerous years, the community became determined to remove this title. Key individuals throughout the county worked together to develop a volunteer-based school safety program for elementary school students. As the school program began to grow
and the need for trauma-informed services became more prevalent, the Haywood County Child Abuse Task Force was formed. Utilized to provide a community-coordinated response to child abuse and neglect, the task force looked to ensure open communication between those responding to investigations. At the same time, the children's advocacy center movement was occurring throughout the nation. As an avid businessman and a visionary in the Waynesville community, Robert Forga along with his wife, Viola, made a child advocacy center possible in Haywood County. The family's vision and dedication to children led them to provide the space for the KARE House. Formally known as "The Robert Forga Family KARE House", the space has allowed for hundreds of children and families to receive services in a space resembling a residential structure. The living room, toys, and lack of structured space, provide a warm and relaxing space for families who utilize the services provided by KARE. As of 2018, KARE is currently out of the top ten counties for child abuse and maltreatment reports.
