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Grant supports Family Advocates, who help trauma-impacted children seek justice, begin healing

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (June 29, 2016) – The Louisville Bar Foundation (LBF) has awarded $10,000 to Family & Children’s Place, the Louisville area’s leading agency combating  issues surrounding child abuse, with the funds to be used to support the Family Advocates program.

Family Advocates, who work with the agency’s child advocacy centers (CAC) in Louisville, Ky., and New Albany and Jeffersonville, Ind., provide crisis intervention and counseling at no cost to children and their families. They collaborate with physicians and partners to reduce trauma, seek justice and provide hope and healing for children and their caregivers.

“The missions and goals of the Louisville Bar Foundation align perfectly to the outcomes we strive for at our child advocacy centers,” said Pam Darnall, president and CEO of Family & Children’s Place. “Just as the Bar Foundation strives for and seeks to ensure justice for everyone, our committed, professional staff daily works to deliver justice and healing for the youngest victims and their families at a very traumatic time.

“This is an invaluable partnership and relationship for us and for the children,” Darnall added.

The agency’s child advocacy centers are the only facilities of their kind in the area serving young victims up to age 17 with compassionate, coordinated intervention and investigation of child sexual abuse.  The CACs provide safe, child friendly environments and bring together professionals, including law enforcement, prosecutors, Child Protective Services, pediatric physicians and trained forensic interviewers and counselors to aid in the investigation, prosecution and healing phases.

As a part of this team, Family Advocates provide critical contact between families and the centers, offering support, crisis management and the referrals trauma-impacted families need to access community resources. Family Advocates help families navigate the legal system, help ensure the justice system is being responsive to the child and help to see that the healing process can begin to restore a strong, healthy family.

The Louisville Bar Foundation, a partner since 1995, works to raise and distribute funds to provide legal services to the poor and indigent; for law-related public education; and for improvement of the judiciary, the legal profession, and citizen access to the justice system. The LBF, established in 1981 as the charitable giving arm of the Louisville Bar Association, is supported by contributions from attorneys, law firms and corporations.

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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.