The San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center (Prevention Center), whose mission is to prevent child abuse and reduce its devastating impact, today announced the grand opening of the Children’s Advocacy Center, which will provide a holistic, one-stop experience for children who have suffered from abuse. Attorney General Kamala Harris and San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee will be on hand to make a statement and dedicate the building with added support and attendance from Supervisor Cohen, City Attorney Herrera and District Attorney Gascón.
With the opening of the new facility, located on 3rd Street in the Bayview neighborhood, the Children’s Advocacy Center provides perhaps the single most important service for a child in the immediate aftermath of abuse; the relief of telling a difficult story just once, to a highly trained and caring professional, in a child-friendly and safe building. Previously, children who experienced the trauma of physical and sexual abuse could be asked to tell their story multiple times to multiple professionals — such as a police officer, a caseworker, and a pediatrician — which can be a traumatic experience. The new space was designed from the ground up to be a comforting environment where children and their families are immediately connected to the critical support services they need to begin to heal.
“The new Children Advocacy Center provides a central location that puts children first, simplifies the process for families who have suffered, and most importantly, starts the path to healing as soon as they walk through the door,” said San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. “We must make sure children who have suffered abuse and trauma do not slip through the cracks of our City’s safety net services and that they receive the support they need.”
The collaborative, multidisciplinary Children’s Advocacy Center will serve over 300 children a year – or approximately 25 children per month – with increased capacity to serve 600 children annually. It also serves as headquarters for Prevention Center’s partners the California Pacific Medical Center’s Bayview Child Health Center and The Center For Youth Wellness, which provides long-term mental health support for children that have been seen at the Health Center. The three non-profit organizations have come together in a caring collaboration to provide high quality pediatric medical care, behavioral health services, case management, and a coordinated response to child abuse all under one roof.
“The opening of the Children’s Advocacy Center of San Francisco is the first milestone resulting from a five-year comprehensive campaign to raise nearly $20 Million in order to strengthen and launch key programming that will help prevent child abuse and nurture those who have been affected,” says Katie Albright, Executive Director of the Prevention Center. “Today marks a giant step ahead for our mission, our city and the families we serve.”
Funding for the new building was spearheaded by Tipping Point Community, as well as generous support from private donors and foundations. The new Children’s Advocacy Center is located at 3450 Third Street, Building 2, Suite 300 in San Francisco. Services will continue to be provided at the previous location within San Francisco General Hospital until operations are fully transitioned to the new location.
In addition to delivering services at the new Children’s Advocacy Center, the Prevention Center and its over one hundred trained clinical and nonprofit professional volunteers will continue to deliver programs to families from its current offices located at 1757 Waller Street, San Francisco, CA 94117. Families with questions can reach the Prevention Center at (415) 441-KIDS (5437).
For press inquiries please contact Kimberly Angell at (415) 471-7272 or email kim.angell at WishPR.com.