Network of Victim Assistance announced the renovation of its Children’s Advocacy Center in Jamison. The CAC is a nationally accredited service of NOVA that is an interagency collaborative between NOVA, Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services Agency, the Bucks County Office of the District Attorney, and all 48 police departments in Bucks County.
Established in 2008, the CAC provides a coordinated and multidisciplinary response to reports of suspected child sexual and physical abuse in Bucks County. The renovations were made possible by a grant through the County of Bucks from the federal government’s CARES Act.
There are more than 2,000 reports of child abuse in Bucks County each year, and the CAC provides a setting where children can receive collaborative services from agencies mandated by law to investigate reports of sexual and physical abuse. The CAC’s mission is to provide a child-friendly setting where skilled professionals investigate abuse allegations, conduct forensic interviews to aid in the prosecution of offenders, and connect victims and families with victim assistance services.
The CARES Act funding enabled NOVA to continue to provide a coordinated community response to child sexual and physical abuse at the Central Bucks location. NOVA’s multidisciplinary approach integrates law enforcement, prosecution, child welfare, medical and mental health and a family advocate.
The purpose of the renovation was to reconfigure the existing multidisciplinary team room and the forensic interview room to ensure social distancing. Additionally, the forensic interview room now has the space to conduct virtual interviews for children who are unable to attend the CAC in person due to distance.
“When the pandemic hit, we knew that we had to continue providing services to the many children and families referred to the CAC, but we did not have physical space to do so while bringing the entire team onsite,” said executive director Penny Ettinger. “The CARES Act provided us with the financial resources to renovate the existing footprint to allow us to continue providing exemplary service to these most vulnerable children and their family members.”
“There are a few things that do not stop for a pandemic. One is child physical and sexual abuse,” said Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, chair of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners. “In fact, these victimizations may increase during a pandemic. Bucks County is happy to work with NOVA in creating a safe venue for interviews in such cases. We must be able to protect and confront child victimization, and the Children’s Advocacy Center needed a COVID-safe environment to do this.”
Additional funds for the renovations were contributed by United Way of Bucks County and Foundations Community Partnership to improve technology.
Learn more at novabucks.org
