Organization: CHILD ABUSE COUNCIL OF MUSKEGON
Mission: TO PREVENT AND TREAT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT THROUGH EDUCATION, CHILD ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION.
Activities: CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A CHILD-FRIENDLY, SAFE PLACE WHERE INTERVIEWS TAKE PLACE. THE ORGANIZATION ALLOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, PROSECUTORS, CHILD VICTIM ADVOCATES AND THE MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO INVESTIGATE CHILD ABUSE CASES. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES ASSESSMENTS TO HELP DETERMINE WHETHER A CHILD HAS BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSED. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS CONDUCTED AT THE CENTER BY SPECIALLY TRAINED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. THE ORGANIZATION HELPS PREPARE A CHILD AND THEIR FAMILY FOR COURT PROCEEDINGS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS COUNSELING FOR ABUSED CHIDLREN AND THEIR FAMILIES FREE OF CHARGE, FOR AS MANY SESSIONS AND FOR AS LONG AS THE CHILD NEEDS TREATMENT. UNITS SERVED: 467 FORENSIC INTERVIEWS, 120 NEW COUNSELING CASES, 63 MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS AND 425 CASES RECEIVED CASE COORDINATION.
CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION SERVICES - THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS AGE-APPROPRIATE PREVENTION EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS. THESE PROGRAMS ADDRESS TOPICS LIKE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION, PERSONAL SAFETY, CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, EDUCATION ON HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND THE REALITIES OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY. THE ORGANIZATION'S CHILD ABUSE EDUCATION PROGRAM EMPOWERS PARENTS TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN AND IT TEACHES THEM HOW TO RECOGNIZE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND WHERE TO FIND HELP. UNITS SERVED: 14,508
COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE SERVICES (CASA) - A CASA VOLUNTEER IS A TRAINED VOLUNTEER THAT ACTS AS AN ADVOCATE FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN. APPOINTED BY A FAMILY COURT JUDGE AND SWORN IN AS AN OFFICER OF THE COURT, THE VOLUNTEER PROVIDES THE JUDGE WITH A CAREFULLY RESEARCHED BACKGROUND OF THE CHILD TO HELP THE COURT MAKE A SOUND DECISION ABOUT THAT CHILD'S FUTURE. A CASA VOLUNTEER CAN THOROUGHLY EXAMINE A CHILD'S CASE, HAS KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COURT REGARDING WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD. UNITS SERVED: 56
NTEE category: Human Services
Secondary category: Crime & Legal-Related