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Print this story CAPS, administrator of Chris’s Place-Child Advocacy Center, held a recognition event today for front-line public servants who protect Saline County’s children. Three law enforcement investigators and eight SRS social workers were recognized for their work in investigating child sexual abuse and serious physical abuse. Four SANE nurses, and five CAPS child advocates were also honored for their around-the-clock service to children and families. Awards Honoring Front Line Heroes: Salina Police Department Investigators: Matt Halton and Melissa Short Saline County Sheriff’s Office Investigators- Matt Fischer SRS Social Workers honored were: Lisa Carter, Chelsea Sutton, Karie Bogart, Rita Begnoche, Jacque Babcock, Alison Rider, Tom Hoke, Yvonne Jones. SANEs- Karen Groot, Susan Reinert, Katie Fast and Rebecca Miller CAPS Child Advocates: Marge Mintun, Sue Jones, Reyna Banda-Torres, Joan Ray and Melissa Burrows The Chris’s Place 2008 Community Hero Award was presented to Becky Gassman, former Community Initiatives Director for SRS, and the driving force for creation of Chris’s Place in Saline County. Dr. Peg Dokken-Opat, Executive Director of USD#305’s Administrative and Student Support Services, paid the following tribute to Becky: “Becky Gassman is a change agent in our community of Salina as well as the state of Kansas. Others have recognized her efforts: in 2002, she received the Friend of Social Work Award from the Smoky Hill Association of Social Workers for her achievements as a force for constructive change in public education in our community. In 2005, she was nominated for USD #305 Friend of Education Award for her extraordinary influence in the education and well being of foster children, not only in our district, but in the state of Kansas. While our community has had many volunteers and supporters, few have provided the kind of lasting change and improvements that Becky has made to the system. Becky could have stopped at her agency’s outcome of “reducing the out of home placements” for children. But she hasn’t. Becky has gone above and beyond the call of duty and outside of the realm of her occupation to use her knowledge of child welfare to improve opportunities for the children in Salina and in Kansas. We are indebted to her insight, leadership and dedication. . . . . Becky is buoyed by her belief in her community and driven to tackle social and economic challenges that naysayers insist can never be overcome. Our community benefits because of her willingness to struggle and therefore we are counting tangible victories because of it. This quite extraordinary individual has passion, perseverance and a sense of purpose; and our community is a better place for her having been in it. Becky Gassman represents the very best of what’s right in Salina” Chris’s Place Highlights: The Advocacy Center has produced collaboration at its finest in the past twenty-six months of operation. The Multidisciplinary Team includes: Central KS Mental Health Center, Disabilities Planning Organization.of KS, KS Dept of Social and Rehabilitation Services, Salina Police Department, Saline Co. Attorney’s Office, Saline Co. Sheriff’s Office, Salina Regional Health Center’s SANE/SART unit, Three Rivers Family Therapy and Child Advocacy & Parenting Services. Prior to the opening of the advocacy center, alleged victims of abuse in our area were interviewed separately by each discipline, often resulting in four interviews in which the child had to recount the abuse- further traumatizing them- and reducing the reliability of their interview and testimony. Since Chris’s Place opened on February 9, 2006: 234 children and 8 adults with disabilities have received forensically-appropriate interviews at the center. Chris’s Place completed the national accreditation application on February 28, 2008. The national accreditation site review will take place July 1, 2008. Chris’s Place has set a record pace for national accreditation of an advocacy center, having only operated for 24 months before completing the process Chris’s Place is the only advocacy center in the state to specialize in interviewing children with disabilities, giving that vulnerable population a way to tell their stories. We’ve trained four forensic interviewers in the NE region of Kansas to work with special populations. Our chief forensic interviewer for persons with disabilities is Helen Swan, Topeka SRS Specialized Forensic Interviewer. Chris’s Place is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week to victims of abuse. CAPS advocates carry pagers and answer the call night or day, as needs arise. Background on Advocacy Centers: The purpose of an advocacy center is to provide a comprehensive response to allegations of child abuse in a comfortable, private, child-friendly setting. The best interest of the child is paramount and drives this multidisciplinary process. The advocacy center reduces the trauma young victims of abuse experience by limiting the number of interviews as their case moves through the investigation and legal process. Chris’s Place’s goal is to improve the quality of investigations through specialized training, increasing the likelihood of criminal prosecution that holds perpetrators accountable and protects other children from harm. When a report of child sexual abuse or serious physical abuse is made, a multidisciplinary team converges at the center to interview the victim of abuse. While the victim has a one-on-one interview with a trained professional interviewer, the rest of the team is situated in an adjoining room, watching the interview through closed-circuit television with the capability of relating questions and comments through transmission to the interviewer’s ear piece. A CAPS family advocate supports the parent or other caregiver in the family waiting room while the interview takes place. Child advocates from CAPS continue to provide support services for the child and their family throughout the investigation and prosecution of their case.
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