Blog, Press Releases

National Children’s Alliance seeking funding, sustainability solutions to share across national network

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Sept. 1, 2016) – The Kosair Charities Child Advocacy Center (KCCAC), deemed one of the seven best in the country by the National Children’s Alliance (NCA), has been selected to take part in a national survey to identify best practices for funding and organizational management within CACs and pass these lessons on to other centers across the country.

The survey by the NCA, the accrediting body for child advocacy centers, selected the Family & Children’s Place program for the survey based on its success obtaining funding from a variety of sources, demonstrating sustainability in the organization.  The goal is to discover context surrounding the numbers – how did the KCCAC develop such an effective model and what better practices could be shared with other centers?

“We’re delighted the NCA selected the Kosair Charities Child Advocacy Center for this survey,” said Pam Darnall, president and CEO of Family & Children’s Place. “It’s the latest in a series of recognitions for the center, so it’s a point of pride for us, and this is a chance to not only share what we have learned, but to learn from other exceptional centers.”

The KCCAC provides compassionate, trauma-informed intervention, treatment and investigation of child sexual and physical abuse in the Greater Louisville area. Therapists, forensic interviewers, the Crimes Against Children Unit of Louisville Metro Police, Child Protective Services, Commonwealth’s Attorney office and physicians from the University of Louisville School of Medicine work collaboratively to stop, investigate and prosecute child abuse and help child survivors and families heal.

“We are fortunate to have the support of the Commonwealth of Kentucky as well as individual donors and foundations and corporations such as the Snowy Owl Foundation, WHAS Crusade for Children, Kosair Charities, Louisville Bar Foundation, William E. Barth Foundation and others,” said Becky League, director of the national model facility. “But even with these generous supporters, the KCCAC costs more to operate than it receives in gifts and funding, so we must draw from a very limited pool of non-designated funding.

“How we can secure additional fund support is a lesson we hope to learn from others through this survey,” she added.

Last year, KCCAC professionals stopped the trauma of sexual and physical abuse and provided compassionate and comprehensive care for more than 1,300 Louisville-area children.

“This is a service the community understands is critical to keeping children safe, and we work closely with Louisville Metro Police and surrounding law enforcement agencies, the FBI, Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, University of Louisville pediatric experts, the Cabinet for Health & Family Services and others providing forensic interviews, medical and mental health assessments, family advocacy and therapy,” said League.  “This is a real opportunity to use shared knowledge to improve not only the KCCAC and our other two centers in Indiana, but also the nearly 800 other centers like us nationwide.

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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.