The aim of Safe Harbor Child Advocacy is to aid severely neglected and physically abused children in the area.
While the grants
“We’re one of the few districts that does
not have one (a child advocacy center),” said Safe Harbor’s
President of the Board of Directors,
“We’re really excited about this,”
said Koester, “and now, the main thing we need is to find
The incoming grants were awarded by the National Children’s Alliance in Washington, D.C. The group will be receiving the following grants starting in 2006.
One grant includes $5,000 to go towards training for its Child Protection Investigatory Team. Another $40,498 will go towards salary for a victims support advocate and some office necessary office equipment. “A victims support advocate would work with non-offending parents to help them work with the child,” said Koester. They would also act as a court liaison for cases that go to court.
A third grant from the NCA is to go towards hiring an executive director for the group, and to also help pay for office equipment.
A child advocacy center would allow abused children to get into counseling quickly and comfortably in a child-friendly atmosphere. Medical examinations will be performed at the center as well as extensive interviews.
Abused children are presently receiving services from many different agencies. Often a child must be questioned at a police station, examined at a hospital and then counseled at yet another facility. Housing these services under one roof helps reduce potential stress for the child and the non-offending parent.
For further questions about the Safe Harbor group
contact
