Victims Assistance Center awarded over $350,000 to fight child abuse

Aug. 02--Tweet

WATERTOWN -- The Victims Assistance Center of Jefferson County will receive more than $350,000 to investigate child abuse, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's office announced Sunday.

Part of more than $4 million in grants statewide, the VACJC was awarded $355,535 in funding from the state Office of Victim Services.

According to VACJC Executive Director Jill Parker, the grant money will go to the center's ongoing regional expansion of its Child Advocacy Center of Northern New York.

Before this year, the center was only able to offer child advocate services in Jefferson County, but is now working in Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

"It's very exciting and it's a lot of work with a larger geographical region," Ms. Parker said. "This will increase the number of cases we are able to handle each year."

The funding will go to hiring specially trained staff for three counties and purchasing recording equipment for forensic interviews.

Forensic interviewers are trained to speak and work with children who have been victims of sexual or physical abuse. The advocacy center allows interviewers to partner with multidisciplinary teams, including law enforcement, child protective services professionals, prosecutors, medical and mental health providers and victim advocates to respond to allegations of child abuse.

Ms. Parker said the enhancement of services for child victims of crime is the most important part of the funding.

"This critical funding will help provide a safe haven for children who have suffered from abuse and help them take the first step on the road to recovery," Gov. Cuomo said according to a public statement.

"It's a labor of love," Ms. Parker said. "Ultimately, we never ever want the voice of a child to be lost. That's number one for us."

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