Child Advocacy Center and Jacksonville North Pulaski School District Host Press Conference to Announce Phase 1 Opening of Second Child Facility to Treat Child Abuse
Second location to open on April 1 and focus on the coordinated response to child abuse and victim support to northern part of the county.
Jacksonville, AR – Children’s Protection Center (CPC), in conjunction with the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District (JNPSD), will host a press conference at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 1 to announce the center’s opening for services and completion of the project’s first phase. In conjunction with the kickoff of Child Abuse Prevention Month, the event will be held at the former Pinewood Elementary School at 1919 Northeastern Avenue in Jacksonville and will include a tour of the completed spaces.
CPC and JNPSD’s partnership to bring services to child abuse victims in the North Pulaski County area is an initiative that represents a monumental step forward for the organization. Renovation of the new space in Pinewood Elementary, a former school building that will house CPC’s additional location, began in December and the District School Board has given $250,000 to help complete Phase 1. The total cost for the CPC expansion and renovation project is $1.5 million.
This innovative partnership between a school district and a child advocacy center will help children find the very unique services they need to heal while receiving sensitivity and competent care from a team of specially trained experts.
CPC provides compassionate care to children and their families to overcome the trauma of abuse. All these services are at no cost to families. They include forensic interviewing, medical exams, mental health services, and family advocacy and support.
Due to a record increase in the number of abused children receiving services over the past five years, CPC realized the need to not only expand its current facility, but also to create a satellite facility in north Pulaski County.
“This is a huge step in us being able to provide services to every child in the county affected by abuse,” says CPC Executive Director Jennifer Long. “By having this additional access to support services, resources, and educational materials, hope and healing is possible to more families than ever before.”
Jacksonville North Pulaski School District Superintendent and CPC board member Jeremy Owoh saw this as the perfect opportunity to collaborate and added, “It will be an asset to have CPC nearby to not only provide these much-needed services, but to also train the district staff on recognizing and reporting abuse.”
CPC is the only organization in Pulaski County that offers a coordinated approach to child abuse investigations, advocacy services, and educational programs. CPC offers a structured, multi-disciplinary approach that includes local law enforcement, DHS workers, prosecutors, state police investigators, medical professionals and mental health counselors. CPC also ensures services are not duplicated and resources are shared. For more information visit childrensprotectioncenter.org.
Jacksonville North Pulaski School District includes Pre-K, Elementary, and Secondary Schools and is committed to fostering a culture of ownership and accountability through partnerships that create multiple pathways for success. For more information visit jnpsd.org.