Hamilton Center for Child Advocacy is a nonprofit, community-based facility providing a safe place where child abuse victims are heard, families are healed, and lives are rebuilt after trauma. Jennifer Terry, Development Director, Hamilton Center for Child Advocacy shares more.
Helping abused children requires a highly specialized team of first responders. The Hamilton Center for Child Advocacy, as part of the multidisciplinary response to child abuse allegations, provides child-focused services to help reduce the trauma associated with a child abuse investigation. Collaboration occurs between a team of medical, mental health, prosecutorial, child protective services, and law enforcement to serve the best interests of these young victims.
Our center’s specific services include family advocacy, forensic interviews, sexual assault medical exams, mental health therapy, and prevention education. Children brought to an advocacy center are more likely to receive long-term mental health and advocacy services needed to properly heal and thrive after the trauma of abuse. Families are also connected to resources needed to help heal and rebuild. The impact of these services is lifelong, and lifesaving, and promotes a more positive economic outcome in the community.
We serve five counties and are the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit required by law to be used during a child abuse investigation (A.C.A § 9-5-110.) We are always available in times of crisis and our services are free. In 2022 alone, our center served 948 children. It is remarkable to consider we run entirely on grants and individual donations.
The Hamilton Center for Child Advocacy had an exciting year in 2022, as we celebrated a ribbon cutting for our name change and the move to a larger space provided by Mercy. We initiated our first Hope for Healing campaign and provided education and awareness of our services at community events. We also participated in our first partnership for the Community Strikes Back Against Child Abuse bowling tournament. Save the date for next year, Saturday, February 3, 2024!
April is Child Abuse Awareness month, and the Hamilton Center is hosting our second annual Hunt the Fort scavenger hunt on April 15 – this is an event not to be missed! Proceeds will help advance our mission and further provide forensic, medical, and mental health services to our clients. More information can be found on Facebook @hamiltoncca and our website, hamiltoncca.org.
We have made incredible strides since 2010 and we continue to look to the future for ways we can better serve our community and help end the cycle of abuse. As our mission continues, expanded space and services will be needed. Your financial support is tax-deductible, and any level of support is a difference-maker in the life of a hurting child. We are here to listen, heal, and rebuild!
2713 South 74th Street, Ste. 203, Fort Smith, Arkansas
479.783.1002
hamiltoncca.org
#listenhealrebuild
