It’s hard to believe it has been just over one year since the Children’s Advocacy Center of Centre County (CAC), Mount Nittany Health, has opened its doors.
So much has changed in the last year, but there is one thing that remains perfectly constant: our focus is always on the children.
Located in Bellefonte and connected to the Mount Nittany Physician Group Pediatrics office, our CAC serves children who have been victims or witness to abuse or neglect.
Through a child-centered approach, our center is a safe and friendly place where children, families, and all parties involved in the investigative process can collaborate.
Through use of a multidisciplinary team, the CAC model brings all involved parties – from child protective services to law enforcement and medical personnel – into one space at one time where the focus is on the child.
Since opening, one of my main goals has been to continually work to increase community awareness about the center, establish partnerships with like-minded organizations, and to offer assistance to other counties across the region. There’s always the need to continue raising awareness and enhance community understanding on how to respond and when to get help.
And you should certainly know that I don’t … nor can I … do this alone. Having the resources in place to not only serve Centre County, but Clinton, Clearfield, Cambria, and Huntingdon as well, really requires a team effort.
I’m so fortunate to have Kimberly Saltsman, our forensic interviewer, and Miranda Flango, our center’s front and point person, by my side. We also have three specially-trained pediatricians from Mount Nittany Physician Group Pediatrics available to conduct child and youth medical examinations, which can be an important part of the information-gathering process.
The resources we have at our fingertips don’t stop at our doors either. Recently, a grant was secured in conjunction with the Centre County Women’s Resource Center to hire Heidi Desmond, a dedicated victim advocate whose singular focus is on the child. She is such a welcomed addition to our team, and really connects well with children and their families.
Two of our most exciting accomplishments over the last year include receiving the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County’s (CBICC) Community Service award, just a few short weeks after opening, and achieving accreditation through the National Children’s Alliance a few months later.
We’re also working hard every day to continue improving our space. One of the things you might notice when walking through our doors is the bright and cheerfully colored walls and rooms. We’re busy hanging children’s artwork and stocking our supply of books and toys, so that children really feel at ease when they visit with us.
All in all, it’s been an incredible whirlwind.
Every time we serve a family or a child — every time that a child is heard — it matters. When we hear from families who are grateful that we’re here to help, that makes us feel successful. I am so proud of the roots that have been established, but going forward, the Children’s Advocacy Center will still rely heavily on the support of the community.
I’m most looking forward to continuing to grow with our great community beside us, and protecting childhood for all kids.
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