Promoting Southern Tier Child Advocacy Center of Allegany County

Grantee Name

Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc.

Funding Area

Special Projects Fund

Publication Date

October 2011

Grant Amount

$116,446

Grant Date:

January 1, 2009 – October 4, 2010

DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT

Print

Under an earlier grant from the New York Health Foundation (NYHealth), Southern Tier Health Care System opened the Southern Tier Child Advocacy Center (STCAC) in Cattaraugus County, which helps children who have experienced physical and sexual abuse from both Cattaraugus and Allegany counties.

Soon after services were under way, the STCAC discovered that a majority of abuse cases from Allegany County (80 %) were not brought to the STCAC because of the long distance from some parts of Allegany County to the STCAC. The STCAC quickly adopted the goal of better serving children who experience abuse in Allegany County by establishing a satellite STCAC for the County, which would be approved by the Office of Child and Family Services and accredited by the National Children’s Alliance. The Southern Tier Health Care System received a second grant from NYHealth to support this initiative.

Outcomes and Lessons Learned

Established a location for the STCAC;
Outfitted the new location with furniture and equipment similar to that located at the STCAC in Cattaraugus County to create a child-friendly atmosphere;
Opened the STCAC on October 2, 2009 and immediately began offering services;
Hired and trained a family case coordinator/victim advocate to manage the STCAC and act as liaison between the victim and their non-offending caregivers and multidisciplinary team members; and
Launched a marketing and public relations campaign to announce the opening of the STCAC and to educate local stakeholders about its services.

Back to Grant Outcomes