Children's Advocacy Center for the 31st Judicial District
Programs
Budget
$5,000.00
Description
A multi-disciplinary team approach to child abuse investigations and intervention. The primary goal of CPIT is to coordinate the highest quality of services available for the victims and their non-offending caregivers. This coordinated effort is enhanced through the implementation of evidence based practices in the areas of investigation, intervention, and treatment of child abuse. Our CPIT is comprised of professionals from the Children's Advocacy Center, Department of Children Services, area Law Enforcement, Judicial System, Medical and Mental Health provider agencies.
Program Areas Served
None
$5,000.00
Description
A multi-disciplinary team approach to child abuse investigations and intervention. The primary goal of CPIT is to coordinate the highest quality of services available for the victims and their non-offending caregivers. This coordinated effort is enhanced through the implementation of evidence based practices in the areas of investigation, intervention, and treatment of child abuse. Our CPIT is comprised of professionals from the Children's Advocacy Center, Department of Children Services, area Law Enforcement, Judicial System, Medical and Mental Health provider agencies.
Program Areas Served
None
Budget
$65,202.00
Description
We view prevention as an investment not only in our children's future but the betterment of our community. We offer community based education and outreach initiatives designed to best reach the intended audience. Children's Advocacy Center regularly provides continuing education to school faculty, law enforcement, medical personnel and community professionals. These trainings enhance knowledge of the signs of child abuse, how to react to a disclosure, how to gather pertinent information, when to report, and how to help insure the safety of the child. It is our intent to arm all children with self-protective knowledge, so they may continue to grow and flourish into healthy adults. Our relationships with each school in both counties allow us to spend quality time with all school-age children educating them on their basic right to safety. We have a series of sensitive and age appropriate curriculum designed to impart personal body safety knowledge to children of all ages.
Program Areas Served
None
$65,202.00
Description
We view prevention as an investment not only in our children's future but the betterment of our community. We offer community based education and outreach initiatives designed to best reach the intended audience. Children's Advocacy Center regularly provides continuing education to school faculty, law enforcement, medical personnel and community professionals. These trainings enhance knowledge of the signs of child abuse, how to react to a disclosure, how to gather pertinent information, when to report, and how to help insure the safety of the child. It is our intent to arm all children with self-protective knowledge, so they may continue to grow and flourish into healthy adults. Our relationships with each school in both counties allow us to spend quality time with all school-age children educating them on their basic right to safety. We have a series of sensitive and age appropriate curriculum designed to impart personal body safety knowledge to children of all ages.
Program Areas Served
None
Budget
$77,700.00
Description
Children's Advocacy Center is a safe and child-friendly environment where forensic interviews are conducted on children, between the ages of 3 and 18, who have been reported as potential victims of child sexual abuse, severe physical abuse or neglect, drug endangered or witness to violence. This conversation is unlike any other exchange between a child and an adult. In a friendly non-leading manner, a specially trained child interviewer obtains information from the alleged victim about the allegation in manner that is both age appropriate and sensitive. The intent is to elicit information without inflecting additional trauma. The obtained information is conveyed to the investigative team for further examination and action. The ultimate goal is to ensure safety for the alleged victim.
Program Areas Served
None
$77,700.00
Description
Children's Advocacy Center is a safe and child-friendly environment where forensic interviews are conducted on children, between the ages of 3 and 18, who have been reported as potential victims of child sexual abuse, severe physical abuse or neglect, drug endangered or witness to violence. This conversation is unlike any other exchange between a child and an adult. In a friendly non-leading manner, a specially trained child interviewer obtains information from the alleged victim about the allegation in manner that is both age appropriate and sensitive. The intent is to elicit information without inflecting additional trauma. The obtained information is conveyed to the investigative team for further examination and action. The ultimate goal is to ensure safety for the alleged victim.
Program Areas Served
None
Budget
$54,150.00
Description
Once a child has been identified as a potential victim of abuse, that families' world becomes chaotic. Many needed services such as crisis intervention, immediate and ongoing emotional support services, and advocacy are available to all Children's Advocacy Center clients and non-offending caregivers as part of the multi-disciplinary investigation response. Our advocates serve as a liaison to provide child maltreatment victims with assistance navigating through the family and criminal judicial system as well as aid in understanding Social Services interaction. They provide support in the provision of medical and/or mental health treatment, and education regarding the dynamics of child abuse and rights of a crime victim. Clients receive personal support from our advocates from the time of the initial referral, throughout the process until the child turns 18 years old or our services are no longer required. Our advocates lend a voice to those who may not otherwise be heard.
Program Areas Served
None
$54,150.00
Description
Once a child has been identified as a potential victim of abuse, that families' world becomes chaotic. Many needed services such as crisis intervention, immediate and ongoing emotional support services, and advocacy are available to all Children's Advocacy Center clients and non-offending caregivers as part of the multi-disciplinary investigation response. Our advocates serve as a liaison to provide child maltreatment victims with assistance navigating through the family and criminal judicial system as well as aid in understanding Social Services interaction. They provide support in the provision of medical and/or mental health treatment, and education regarding the dynamics of child abuse and rights of a crime victim. Clients receive personal support from our advocates from the time of the initial referral, throughout the process until the child turns 18 years old or our services are no longer required. Our advocates lend a voice to those who may not otherwise be heard.
Program Areas Served
None
Budget
$31,200.00
Description
Children's Advocacy Center has partnered with area mental health professionals to provide a highly specialized short term Trauma-Focused Therapy for children and adolescents between the ages of 3 to 17 who have been victimized by child sexual abuse, severe physical abuse or neglect, drug endangered, or witness to a violent crime. The issue of traumatic child abuse can often be overwhelming to everyone involved. This childhood trauma if left untreated probably will manifest itself in long term mental and physical health concerns. In a resourceful and positive manner, child-victims and their non-offending caregivers will be provided with education and the proper tools to develop effective coping skills and intervention strategies. These methods will allow victims to effectively express their outrage about the trauma inflected into their lives and then allow them to move forward. Ultimate goal is a productive healthy future for all.
Program Areas Served
None
$31,200.00
Description
Children's Advocacy Center has partnered with area mental health professionals to provide a highly specialized short term Trauma-Focused Therapy for children and adolescents between the ages of 3 to 17 who have been victimized by child sexual abuse, severe physical abuse or neglect, drug endangered, or witness to a violent crime. The issue of traumatic child abuse can often be overwhelming to everyone involved. This childhood trauma if left untreated probably will manifest itself in long term mental and physical health concerns. In a resourceful and positive manner, child-victims and their non-offending caregivers will be provided with education and the proper tools to develop effective coping skills and intervention strategies. These methods will allow victims to effectively express their outrage about the trauma inflected into their lives and then allow them to move forward. Ultimate goal is a productive healthy future for all.
Program Areas Served
None
CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments
| Child maltreatment is not a topic people wish to consider much less discuss during polite conversation. National studies indicate that one in ten children will be sexually abused before they reach their 18th birthday. Yet approximately only 10% of all child abuse is ever reported to authorities. As a society, we are conditioned to mind our own business and not get involved. Yet, the good health and continued welfare of children are matters in which each and every adult should be vigilant. I refer to the old adage "it takes a village to raise a child." Last year, Van Buren and Warren Counties had 759 allegations of child maltreatment reports. Of those reports, 145 new cases were referred to us with a severe abuse or neglect classification. We provided child forensic interviews, crisis counseling, advocacy, education, safety and needs assessments, referrals for additional services and community resources, system support and education, trauma and family counseling. That was just for the children who were lucky enough to catch the attention of someone who is aware of the signs of abuse and willing to contact the proper authorities. As an organization, we actively seek ways to effectively reach both adults and children in our communities. For the adults, we emphatically encourage their recognition of the signs of child abuse and prompt their willingness to report their suspicions to proper authorities. We teach children, from an early age, about personal body safety; that they have the right to protect themselves from harm; and who to turn to if they feel help is needed. A huge obstacle in which we face is people reporting their suspicion or knowledge child maltreatment. Until this practice becomes second nature to everyone, victims of child abuse and/or neglect will go unidentified. For victimized families who do not obtain help, their children are facing a potential lifetime of health, emotional and social hardships. Yet, it is a part of our mission to ever expand upon our education and outreach campaigns to find a way to reach those people unwilling to become involved in child betterment. One major hurdle is and will continue to be, securing adequate funding to maintain, enhance, and implement the programs and services needed to ensure children live free from abuse and neglect. The foundation of our center necessitates that our direct services are provided free of charge to those we serve. Therefore, we will always be dependent upon governmental funding, grants and the generosity of others. However, we are good stewards. We continually explore avenues to diversify our revenues by cultivating support from various individuals, organizations, and foundations, refining our annual appeal process, increasing revenues from special events and researching alternative methods of income generation. |
