Cass Burkett, Executive Director
Western PA CARES for Kids “CARES” began with a dream to radically change the way the system treats abused children. Prior to the establishment of CARES, abused children would be interviewed by everyone responsible for reporting and/or investigating the allegations of abuse. Repetitive interviews caused the child additional trauma each time they had to repeat their abuse experience and often left them with the feeling that they were not believed. Kids were interviewed by people who had little experience or knowledge about interviewing child victims. The people responsible for investigating the abuse didn’t coordinate their efforts or communicate with each other, resulting in the loss of important case information.
The District Attorney learned about a team approach to child abuse and implemented our first multidisciplinary team made up of law enforcement, prosecution, children and youth services, mental health personnel, medical personnel, juvenile probation, and members of all the victim services agencies in our county. We began by discussing current cases of child abuse on a monthly basis to ensure communication and collaboration with these types of cases and that no child would fall through the cracks again. This was the answer to only part of the problem. The other problem still needed addressed. Children still needed to be interviewed by the investigating agencies and that meant there would still be multiple interviews. In 2007 the multidisciplinary team learned of the possibility of a start up grant for a child advocacy center that would enable them to hire a trained forensic interviewer with nationally accredited training. We applied for the grant and were awarded a $50,000.00 one year start up grant for 2008 and began a governmental base child advocacy center. Our next step was to find a facility equipped with a child friendly waiting area, interview room, observation room and an office space. Brookville Behavioral Health provided us with a donated space in the basement area of their building where we are currently located. The Brookville Kiwanis club donated over $7,000.00 enabling us to purchase the needed recording and monitoring equipment for the interview process. Elk County’s Children and Youth Services, donated much needed furniture and provided new toys for the children’s area of the waiting room. In May of 2008, we were able to hire a forensic interviewer/executive director. Having a specially trained forensic interviewer enabled abused children to be interviewed once while the investigative team watched on a monitor and were also able to offer input for any additional inquiry needed. We were finally able to lessen the trauma a child experiences by providing a child friendly space to help put the children at ease and be interviewed once. The interviews are recorded to DV-R and DVD copies are given to the police and District Attorney. One unforeseen benefit to recording the interviews has been that many offenders are pleading guilty after reviewing the recorded interview with their attorney in the District Attorney’s Office.
At the end of 2008, CARES established a board of directors and began the process of applying for 501 (c ) 3 non-profit status. We are currently a 501 (c ) 3 non-profit organization and have provided help to more than 200 children in our community. At the core of our success thus far is our community, businesses, civic organizations and people like you who have contributed their time and resources to ensure our program is viable and the children received the help they need to begin the healing process. We have several areas of sponsorship and one such area is our annual Duathlon, 5K & Community Walk in Cook Forest State Park. We need your help to continue to help the children in our community. If you are interested in making a difference in the life of a child by investing in their future, contact us for more information and consider becoming a donor or sponsor. Help us Stop the cycle of abuse…one child at a time.
