NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Allie Seifert
DDCworks
484-342-3600
aseifert@ddcworks.com
Mission Kids Celebrates 5 Years of Bringing Help and Hope to Victims of Child Abuse
Child Advocacy Center hosted an open house to thank the Montgomery County Community and recognize the efforts of all who have stood against child abuse
BLUE BELL, Pa. – October 29, 2014 – In celebration of five successful years aiding victims of child sexual abuse in Montgomery County, Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center, a nationally accredited Child Advocacy Center, hosted an Open House on Oct. 29 to honor and thank the hundreds of donors and supporters for their commitment to helping children heal from abuse.
Since opening its doors in 2009, more than 1,900 victims of child sexual abuse have utilized services offered by the Montgomery County Child Advocacy Center, seeking healing and justice for victims of abuse. Abbie Newman, Executive Director of Mission Kids, has been a driving force behind the Center’s growth and development.
Highlights over the five-year period include:
- Decreasing the trauma for over 1,900 Montgomery County children and their families during the investigation of child abuse cases;
- Developing dedicated mental health partnerships to help children and their non-offending family members heal after the trauma of abuse;
- Developing Mission Kids’ relationship with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), bringing specialized medical care for child victims to Montgomery County;
- Implementing a Family Advocacy Program to support all children and families through the criminal justice system, ensuring that all families receive the appropriate referrals, treatment and services available at no cost;
- Relocating Mission Kids’ facility to a larger space in order to accommodate the increasing number of cases and services provided;
- Emerging as a leader in community-based education programs, designed to raise awareness and prevent child sexual abuse;
- Implementing a state-of-the art technology recording system;
- Emerging as a leader in the development of Child Advocacy Centers in Pennsylvania under the direction of Mission Kid’s Executive Director, Abbie Newman, RN, JD, immediate past President of the State Chapter of Child Advocacy Centers and present Chair of the State Chapter External Affairs Committee.
“This is such an important milestone for Mission Kids,” said Ms. Newman. “Not only do we have the opportunity to look back at all we’ve accomplished over the past five years, but we can also identify ways we will continue to improve and expand upon our mission – not only in Montgomery County, but across Pennsylvania—helping to raise awareness surrounding the monumental issue of child abuse. There are so many people to thank for their continued support and donations, which is why we honor them at our open house.”
In the next five years, Mission Kids expects that the number of children served will continue to rise, as the awareness of child abuse in our communities continues to be heightened. Mission Kids plans to increase its outreach programs, including education programs in child abuse prevention and the availability of specialized mental health services to help victims and non-offending family members move onto healing faster.
“When we opened the doors of Mission Kids five years ago, we never dreamt how far we would come in such a short time,” said Risa Vetri Ferman, District Attorney of Montgomery County, and co-Founder of Mission Kids. “With the support given to child victims by Mission Kids, the DA’s Office and law enforcement have achieved an unprecedented level of success holding child abusers accountable in court for their misdeeds, giving child victims a true measure of justice in court, in addition to the healing they need. My hope for the future is that the model we have created in Montgomery County with Mission Kids can serve as a roadmap to help other counties across the country in developing effective child advocacy centers and multi-disciplinary teams”
Those who would like to learn more about Mission Kids or make a donation to the
organization may visit www.missionkidscac.org.
About Mission Kids
Mission Kids is a 501(c)(3) corporation centrally located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Founded in March 2007, Mission Kids was created by the collaborative effort of the Montgomery County District Attorney, the Police Chiefs of Montgomery County, and the Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth to stop the cycle of abuse and improve the outcomes for abused children and their families. Mission Kids offers a comprehensive, centrally located, multidisciplinary team response to allegations of child abuse in a dedicated, child-friendly setting to achieve justice for child victims and promote their physical and emotional well-being.
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