Who we are We help children who have experienced abused find their voice and begin healing.

Transcription

1 2015 Annual Report

2 Who we are We help children who have experienced abused find their voice and begin healing. What we do Most importantly, children come first. We provide healing opportunities for children and aid in the investigation and prosecution of their abuse offender. Our community impact As the only child abuse advocacy center serving Oklahoma County, we offer a seamless effort towards a child s healing after abuse.

3 Mia is an outgoing six-year-old. She loves to play with her friends, play dress-up and sing along to the radio. Not long ago, Mia started acting withdrawn, lost interest in her favorite things, and became very attached to her mom. After asking a few questions, her mom learned their neighbor, who baby-sat Mia, had been touching her. Scared and unsure what to do next, Mia s mom immediately called the police for help.

4 Police officers made sure Mia was not in immediate danger. They also called child protective services who helped ensure Mia had safe caregivers and babysitters. Within a few days, police detectives referred Mia to The CARE Center for a forensic interview. 90% children who are victims of abuse know their abuser. When Mia and her mom arrived at The CARE Center, Mia ran to our playroom where she played with dolls and toys and even saw Harlow, our therapy dog. A short while later, Mia met one-on-one with a specially trained forensic interviewer. The interviewer began their time together by talking about the

5 importance of telling the truth and asking Mia what she liked to do for fun. The interviewer asked open-ended questions and made Mia feel comfortable to share what happened with her neighbor. In another room, the police detective, child protective services worker, and our medical coordinator watched the video-recorded interview in real-time. The interview was used in the investigation and ultimately in the prosecution of Mia s neighbor. Since Mia disclosed abuse during the forensic interview, she received a medical exam from our medical coordinator.

6 The exam was minimally invasive and provided peace of mind that Mia s body is okay, and there will not be any long-term physical effects of the abuse. Mia s mom was very upset about the abuse. During the interview, she met with our family advocate and mental health coordinator and discussed how to move forward. Our mental health coordinator referred her to a trauma-focused counselor in her area for her and Mia. In Oklahoma, one in three girls and one in five boys will experience abuse. Mia s mom visited our Lion s Den Resource Room where they picked out clothing and personal care items to help alleviate additional burdens. Our family advocate also connected Mia s mom to other community resources for assistance.

7 A few weeks later, professionals assigned to Mia s case attended our weekly case review where each agency reported on the case progress and resources offered to Mia and her mom. Our mental health coordinator also followed up with Mia s mom to see if they were able to begin counseling or needed other resources. Ten months after visiting The CARE Center, Mia is starting to enjoy the things she used to love again. She is thriving in school and regularly attends counseling appointments. Mia s mom also attends counseling and is finally letting go of some of her guilt and grief. Mia and her mom recently learned their neighbor accepted a plea from the district attorney. He will serve 15 years in prison for his abuse.

8 Our Services Play Orientation. We intentionally build play time into each child s visit to help him or her feel comfortable in our environment. Each child receives one-on-one playtime and an opportunity to meet Harlow, our therapy dog. Forensic Interviews. This is the cornerstone of our work. A video-recorded interview is conducted in a developmentally appropriate, non-leading or intrusive setting with the emphasis on the child s comfort and obtaining accurate information for the case investigation and prosecution. Specialized Advocacy. We offer support for every caregiver, including our Lion s Den Resource Room, Christmas at CARE, and personalized resource referrals to help alleviate barriers to healing. Medical Exams. Proper medical attention is vital to the child s holistic healing. With a child abuse medical professional on staff, every child we serve has the opportunity to receive medical exam on our campus. Counseling Services. Counseling is the key to long-term healing and overcoming the trauma of abuse. We offer acute on-site counseling for our children and caregivers as well as referrals to our on-campus partner, NorthCare, and other trauma-focused counselors in our community. Case Review. We hold a weekly case review for our multidisciplinary team partners to determine the best interests of the child and ways we can further support healing.

9 969 children received Forensic Interviews 56% girls 44% boys A Snapshot of our Children 3,064 people received Family Advocacy services 557 served through our Lion s Den Resource Room 115 served through Christmas at CARE Types of Abuse: Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse, Witness to Violence, Neglect, Witness to Sexual Abuse, Child Pornography and Kidnapping Forensic Interviews increased by 25% in Medical & Wellness Services 120 children received a medical exam on our campus from a child abuse specialist medical professional. 249 children accepted counseling referrals 428 children were already in counseling

10 CEO s Note & Financial Report Our mission: Every child has a voice; we listen. Every day, we witness the bravery and courage of children in our community who have experienced the unimaginable. With a 25% increase in services over last year, we continue to meet a vital need in Oklahoma County. I am grateful for a team committed to helping children. Thank you to our staff, multidisciplinary team, volunteers, and donors for standing up for children. We could not fulfill our mission without you. I encourage you to visit our website at www. carecenter-okc.org for more information on volunteering and how you can support our children and become LionHearted Income Donations $174,610 In Kind Donations $32,058 State and Federal Grants $69,483 Special Event Income (net) $86,192 Investment Income $4,430 Other Income $6,252 Loss or Disposal of Fixed Assets $(8,241) Total $990, Expenses Program Services $797,234 Fundraising $85,841 Management/Administration $78,647 Total $961,822 For additional financial information, please contact us at (405)

11 CARE Center Leadership Staff Stacy McNeiland, Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Craig, Director of Programs Traci Schwartz, Director of Operations Kristin E. Van Nort, Director of Development Maria Escobar, Bilingual Forensic Interviewer Addison Buchner Forensic Interviewer Jessica Stoops, Family Advocate/Forensic Interviewer Hannah Griffis, Family Advocate Debi Bermel, Mental Health Coordinator Jessica Harper, MS, MHS, PA-C, Medical Coordinator Haley Korff, Client Relations Specialist Advisory Board David Prater, District Attorney, Oklahoma County William Citty, Chief, Oklahoma City Police Dept. Calvin Kelly, Deputy Directory, DHS Sarah Rahhal, Chief Operating Officer, NorthCare Terrence Stull, M.D., Chairman, Dept. of Pediatrics, OU Health Sciences Center John T. Whetsel, Sheriff, Oklahoma County Board of Directors Teresa Williams, President Scott Stemmons, Vice President Allyson Carson, Secretary Karen Kreger, Treasurer Gina Buendia, Development Chair Derek Briggs Leslie Buford Aaron Curry Joe Dorman Meline Epley Debra Moebius Handy Susan Krug Jason Liles Andy Means Chantal Morris Becky Roten To learn more about The CARE Center or schedule a tour, please contact us at (405) or visit

12 1403 Ashton Place Oklahoma City, OK (405) ACCREDITED MEMBER