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Matching grant supports agency’s Kosair Charities Child Advocacy Center

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (July 19, 2016) – Kosair Charities has awarded $75,000 to Family & Children’s Place, to help support the critical work of the Kosair Charities Child Advocacy Center (KCCAC), the only facility of its kind in the area serving young victims up to age 17 with compassionate, coordinated intervention and investigation of child sexual abuse.

In awarding the grant, Kosair Charities shared that, “your commitment to children is commendable and worthy.”

“Kosair Charities shares our passion for helping children and doing all we can to ensure they have a happy, healthy childhood,” said Pam Darnall, president and CEO of Family & Children’s Place. “This grant helps ensure that children who allege sexual abuse are heard and services provided that allow for the investigation and possible prosecution of a crime, and that the child and family get the help they need for healing.”

The grant is a challenge grant, which means Family & Children’s Place will need to raise an equal amount, bringing the total benefit to $150,000.  Over the years, Kosair Charities has contributed nearly $4 million to Family & Children’s Place, including a sizable gift toward the agency’s Fifth and Kentucky streets campus.

The KCCAC is one of 15 centers in the state serving 6,000 children statewide, and last year helped more than 1,300 children from Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties.

The intent in every case is to identify, investigate and prosecute the person responsible for the abuse, and to ensure appropriate therapy for the child victim and his or her family. This is all managed by a multidisciplinary team comprising police, prosecutors, trauma-trained pediatricians and Child Protective Services, all supported by forensic interviewers and therapists.

“With medical, investigative and therapeutic professionals working together, children who allege abuse don’t have to tell and retell their story,” said Darnall. “The CACs digitally record the child’s forensic interview, sharing it with police and prosecutors. This significantly reduces stress, trauma, and speeds the time healing can begin.”

The collaborations within child advocacy centers also have been shown to increase the likelihood of successful prosecutions of people who abuse children, and usually results in charging the suspect with a more significant crime due to the forensic nature of a CAC’s services – the findings stand up in court.

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About Family & Children’s Place
Family & Children’s Place protects Kentuckiana children, families and communities from abuse, neglect and exploitation, and helps move them from hurting to healing.  We serve nearly 5,000 children and families annually through trauma-informed and impact-evident services.  For more information about Family and Children’s Place, visit www.famchildplace.org or call 502-893-3900.