Center Serving 2,000 Abused Children Annually Needs Sponsors
Imagine being a child who has suffered some type of abuse, possibly from someone you know or care about. Life can be extremely confusing and painful to an abused child. Now imagine adding to that burden the anxiety and turmoil associated with being the center of a criminal case involving your abuser. Children in Utah County do not need to feel alone as they face the medical, legal, psychological and social issues surrounding their abuse. Thanks to generous private donations, various grants, and an appropriation by the Utah State Legislature, The Utah County Children’s Justice Center in Provo helps abused children through the overwhelming chaos, fear and complex emotions that accompany child abuse.
The center is a public/private partnership focused on providing a child friendly, home-like physical facility to support the investigation of child abuse. The center utilizes a multi-disciplinary investigation team to coordinate the interview process and assess the needs of the child and family for support services. Walking into the center is like walking into an informal “family room” with toys and books for children. Adding to that warmth is a kitchen with snacks and drinks for children. Along with the home-like surroundings, however, are more business-like rooms dedicated to the facility’s purpose. There are interview rooms with audio and video recording capacity, a medical examination room, and various conference rooms and training rooms.
The center offers referrals to treatment and support groups for adults who were molested as children. They also provide professional training, seminars and conferences on child abuse, investigation, and intervention issues. The community can access the center’s expertise in child abuse and family violence issues by requesting community education.
Unfortunately, the center sees a steady stream of abused children enter through its doors. Approximately 2,000 Utah County children and their families are served by the center each year. The amount of operational funding appropriated from taxes for investigative services is minimal, and the center relies heavily on local citizens and businesses to provide funds for the facility and on-going treatment.
A non-profit group was established to support the center and its programs. With no paid employees, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center is a tax-exempt organization (501-c-3) with a “wish list” of needed funds, services and materials. Funding is needed for a variety of items including building and grounds repair, laptop and desktop computers, office equipment, printing of booklets and brochures, and to pay for professional services. Needed donations of service include grounds maintenance, child mentors, carpet cleaning, window cleaning, and general cleaning. Donated materials could include high quality copy paper, toilet paper, bottled drinks and snacks, diapers and wipes, etc.
Friends of the Children’s Justice Center will host their annual “Doll House Festival, Dinner Dance, Boutique and Children’s Tea” fund-raiser and awareness event at the Provo Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, October 16-18. The group is looking for a limited number of corporate sponsors and all proceeds benefit the Utah County Children’s Justice Center. Sponsors will be recognized during the event and on advertising materials. The festival will kick off with a fund-raising masquerade ball, dinner and silent auction on Thursday, October 16th. Tickets are $100 each. The public is welcome to purchase items at the boutique on October 17-18 (no tickets necessary). All proceeds from boutique sales will benefit the Children’s Justice Center. And finally a “Mad Hatter Tea Party” for children will conclude the event on October 18th. Tickets are $10 per child.
Contact Kathy Curtis at 801-372-3707 for ticket sales over the phone. For other donations, online ticket purchases, or more information about the event go to the website at CJCFriends.com.