The Child and Youth Advocacy Center (CYAC) will receive another year of funding after Gov. Jim Justice awarded $2,118,674 to 22 advocacy centers throughout the state.
The Lewisburg-based CYAC will receive $100,777 to continue addressing the growing problem of child abuse and neglect, according to a press release from the office of the Governor.
Staci Russell-Teaney, executive director of the CYAC, said these funds are awarded yearly and are used to support employee salaries, especially the prevention education coordinator who teaches body safety and anti-bullying curriculum at local elementary schools. The money also goes toward training, community outreach and providing children with a safe environment to discuss events in their life.
One of the most important components of the CYAC is forensic interviewing, Russell-Teaney said.
“When there is a child alleged or suspected of being the victim of physical or sexual abuse, neglect or drug endangerment; or if they witnessed a violent crime or domestic violence in the home, or some other form of violent crime, they come in and meet with one of our forensic interviewers,” Russell-Teaney explained. “The forensic interview helps the child provide details that an investigator would need to follow up on a crime.”
All interviews are conducted in a non-threatening way to the child, Russell-Teaney added. “Our focus is on the child’s well-being and what is in their best interest.”
Additionally, the CYAC provides advocacy services to children and non-offending family members who need help with the court system, or who need therapy services, Russell-Teaney said.
On average, the CYAC helps 200 children in Greenbrier, Monroe and Pocahontas counties annually, she continued.
Without state funding, Russell-Teaney said the CYAC wouldn’t be around to offer any services to those in the community.
“It supports our salaries so we can provide free services to everyone who walks through our door,” she concluded.
Justice stated in the press release that he believes programs like the CYAC stand up for kids “who truly need it the most.”
“When it comes to severe cases of child abuse and neglect, these are situations that no child should ever have to go through,” Justice stated. “They are flat-out unacceptable, and I believe we need to do everything in our power to hold whoever would do these kinds of things accountable and bring them to justice.”
The funds are provided by the state of West Virginia and are administered by the Justice and Community Services section of the West Virginia Division of Administrative Services.
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