Skip to main content

children's advocacy center

Advocacy Center earns accreditation for service to the GLOW region

By Press Release

Press Release:

Following an extensive application and site review process, National Children’s Alliance recognizes the Justice for Children Advocacy Center (JFCAC) for its delivery of high-quality and effective services to child abuse victims through accreditation. 

As the accrediting agency for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) across the country, National Children’s Alliance awards various levels of accreditation and membership to centers responding to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient and put the needs of child victims of abuse first. Accreditation is the highest level of membership with the National Children’s Alliance and denotes excellence in service provision.

The Justice for Children Advocacy Center has a long and successful history of providing services to children and families in the GLOW region. In 1992, Genesee Justice, a department of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, helped establish a multidisciplinary team to serve the unique needs of children that have been physically or sexually abused. 

With the support of many dedicated members of the community and the multidisciplinary team, the Justice for Children Advocacy Center opened its doors in Batavia in 1998. As the program grew, satellite offices in Albion and Warsaw were opened in 2017. The goal of the Justice for Children Advocacy Center is to provide a child-friendly location where highly trained professionals provide forensic interviews, medical examinations, mental health counseling, and advocacy services to children from birth to age 18 and their non-offending family members regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, or financial status. 

Since 1998, approximately 4,500 children have received services at the Justice for Children Advocacy Center, and in 2022, 274 children benefitted from the services available. As an Accredited Member of the National Children’s Alliance, the Justice for Children Advocacy Center is dedicated to providing comprehensive, coordinated, and compassionate services to victims of child abuse.

National Children’s Alliance awards accredited membership based on a CAC’s compliance with 10 national standards of accreditation to ensure effective, efficient, and consistent delivery of services to child abuse victims. 

National Children’s Alliance updated these standards in 2017 to reflect the most recent evidence-based practices in the field of child abuse intervention and prevention. According to these standards, accredited members must utilize a functioning and effective multidisciplinary team approach to work collaboratively in child abuse investigation, prosecution, and treatment.

National Children’s Alliance also considers standards regarding a center’s cultural competency and diversity, forensic interviews, victim support and advocacy, medical evaluation, therapeutic intervention, and a child-focused setting.

“As a team of individuals who are fiercely devoted to professionally and compassionately responding to reports of child abuse, we strive to meet the highest standards of care for child victims and their loved ones. Accreditation from the National Children’s Alliance not only validates our organization’s proven effective approach to responding to allegations of child abuse but also provides consistency across the child advocacy center movement as a whole. A team response to child abuse is what we stand for, and it is our entire team that allows us to provide the highest level of care and service to children and families in our community,” said Theresa Roth, Justice for Children Advocacy Center Program Coordinator.

“The Justice for Children Advocacy Center is to be commended for its excellent work serving victims of child abuse. As the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers across the country, our goal is to ensure that every victim of child abuse has access to high-quality services that result from professional collaboration,” remarked Teresa Huizar, Executive Director of National Children’s Alliance.

For more information about the Justice for Children Advocacy Center, visit them on Facebook @justiceforchildrencac. 

Batavia Kiwanis Club's gala and auction for Children's Advocacy Center was a smashing success

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The 3rd Annual Bidding on a Brighter Future Gala and Auction, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Batavia, was the largest and most successful thus far. Thank you to all of the incredible people of our local community and surrounding counties for this accomplishment!

As this wonderful event was taking shape on the afternoon of September 21st, it became increasingly apparent that this is an exceptional community: one united, one poised to help, one ready to lend a helping hand and one fully engaged in helping children in need and their families. The Kiwanis Club of Batavia extends heartfelt thanks to all of the individuals, businesses and organizations who stepped up in a collaborative, genuine effort to accomplish the Kiwanis mission of “serving the children of the world” as we make the dream of a new home for the Children’s Advocacy Center a reality!

"Making a difference, one child at a time", has been clearly demonstrated by the visionary residents of our community that continue to support this cause.

With Many Thanks,

Ed Minardo
2012-2013 President
Kiwanis Club of Batavia

Jeanne Walton
2013 Gala Chair

Kiwanis Club of Batavia

Kiwanis' third annual fundraiser for the Children's Advocacy Center set for Sept. 21

By Billie Owens

Press release:

BATAVIA — Kiwanis Club of Batavia is gearing up for its third annual Gala fundraiser, "Bidding on a Brighter Future." With a different venue, live entertainment, a great menu and specialty raffles, this event will offer something for everyone as it raises money to help the Children's Advocacy Center right here in Batavia.

It's set to begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 at The Forum at Genesee Community College, 1 College Road.

Over the last two years, the gala has brought in more than $70,000 to support a new location for the Center. In the meantime, the Center has been in progress with moving to a temporary location next to First Presbyterian Church. That will allow Center staff to save money on rent and instead use it for crucial services for child victims of sexual abuse.

Hundreds of children and families use this center throughout the course of a year for medical, legal, emotional and law enforcement assistance. The Center serves families in Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming and Livingston counties.

The Gala Committee welcomes and encourages local businesses, organizations and individuals to support this event. You may do so by becoming a sponsor, making a donation for one of the many auctions or by purchasing a program ad.

Tickets are $50 a person or $400 for a table of 10. Special sponsorship levels are also available, such as a $500 table for 10 that includes promotional perks.

WHAT: Third annual Bidding on a Brighter Future Gala & Auction
WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21
WHERE: The Forum, Genesee Community College, 1 College Road, Batavia

CONTACT: Phone -- 815-5234 or e-mail info@biddingonabrighterfuture.org, or visit
www.biddingonabrighterfuture.org.

Authentically Local