The Child Advocacy Center

Last Updated Thursday, April 29, 2010 4:11:53 PM

In the past year, Brown County has had more than 1,300 confirmed child abuse cases and over 3,300 reports of child abuse. Behind the statistics may be the face of a child you know. If left unaddressed, the emotional effects of abuse scar far deeper and last much longer than any bruise or broken bone. Children who have been abused shoulder the crushing realization that the people they love the most have betrayed their trust. In the eyes of the abused child, the world is a dangerous, volatile place, lacking the safe, nurturing spaces required for healing and growth.

The ultimate goal of the Child Advocacy Center is to break this cycle of abuse by focusing on meeting the needs of its youngest victims and their families. Drawing from the combined wisdom and resources of seven local non-profits and from successful models already operating nationwide, the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) will be a child-friendly, home-like facility where all existing agencies involved in child abuse cases work together to provide comprehensive care. The Child Advocacy Center will facilitate healing by:

• Decreasing further victimization of abused children through the creation of one taped interview of the alleged victim that can be used throughout the investigation and prosecution process.
• Assisting in the mental, emotional and physical recovery of abuse victims and their families through on-site medical care and therapy by licensed and trained medical professionals.
• Increasing the number of successful prosecutions of perpetrators
• Educating adults and children to recognize and stop abusive and neglectful behaviors through the efforts of a dedicated Child Abuse Prevention Educator.

By addressing the immediate trauma of abuse, the CAC reduces the damage associated with child abuse, providing for greater immediate and long-term healing for the affected children, their families, and our community.

The Child Advocacy Center was granted a total of $225,000 over three years through the Basic Needs Giving Partnership. A grant of $75,000 each of the next three years will support the salaries of a child/family therapist and a child abuse prevention educator.

The collaborative partners include:

Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Brown County Human Services Green Bay Police Department	Brown County Sheriff’s Department Brown County District Attorney’s Office Prevea Health Services.

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Related link: Child Advocacy Center's groundbreaking pegged for fall, Green Bay Press Gazette, June 14, 2009

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Greater Green Bay Community Foundation | 310 W. Walnut Street, Suite 350 | Green Bay, WI 54303 | Phone: (920) 432-0800 | Fax: (920) 432-5577