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Oceana County enters partnership with Lakeshore Children’s Advocacy Center
When agencies come together to coordinate services, the results can be outstanding. Such is the case for children in Oceana County, thanks to the recent efforts of local professionals determined to protect and serve vulnerable children, states a press release from the Lakeshore Children’s Advocacy Center.
Pentwater Police Chief Laude Hartrum
Representatives from the Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Oceana County Child Protective Services, Michigan State Police, the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, Hart Police Department, New Era Police Department, Pentwater Police Department, Rothbury Police Department, Shelby Police Department, Walkerville Police Department, West Michigan Community Mental Health, C.O.V.E. and the Lakeshore Children’s Advocacy Center recently signed an agreement to provide coordinated care to children in Oceana County who are involved in investigations of abuse.
“The partnership agreement with the Lakeshore Children’s Advocacy Center has full support from our local law enforcement agencies,” said Pentwater Police Chief Laude Hartrum. “Having a coordinated response to child abuse investigations will result in positive outcomes for the children in our community.”
Children’s advocacy centers are child-focused programs where representatives from many disciplines work together to conduct interviews and make team decisions on cases of child abuse. The CAC model for child abuse intervention is proven and effective, bringing together trained professionals to investigate and provide medical and mental healthcare as well as support to child victims of abuse, while holding offenders accountable through the court system. Children’s advocacy centers are child-friendly and designed to create a sense of safety and security for child victims.
The Lakeshore Children’s Advocacy Center is one of 40 children’s advocacy centers in Michigan, and one of 980 in the United States. It was established in 2009, and its services include forensic interviews, family advocacy, trauma therapy, prevention education programs, referrals for forensic medical exams, and coordination of multi-disciplinary team case review. All services are provided at no cost to children and families.
The CAC brings together all agencies for monthly case review and updates. The goal is full coordination among agencies, and no child falling through the cracks.
“While we have had a courtesy agreement in place to serve Oceana County for a few years, we appreciate the opportunity to formalize our partnership so that we can help provide important wrap-around services to children and families, and so that we can serve as a centralized hub for information sharing and case review,” says Megan McCarthy, executive director of the Lakeshore Children’s Advocacy Center.
“All agencies are engaged and enthusiastic about this partnership,” adds McCarthy. “I am confident that this will benefit the children of Oceana County.”
Lakeshore CAC is an accredited member of the National Children’s Alliance. The accreditation process requires effective, efficient, and consistent delivery of services. The process also ensures that programs adhere to rigorous standards of quality service provision known to be effective in helping children heal from the effects of abuse.
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