The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) of the Green River District, part of the statewide coalition of CACs dedicated to helping every child impacted by abuse, has opened a new satellite office in Owensboro.
With offices statewide, the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kentucky provide specialized forensic interviews, medical exams, therapy, and advocacy to children entering the justice system as part of an investigation of abuse. CAC Kentucky connects local CACs and their partners with the tools, resources, and support needed to provide a comprehensive response to child abuse.
The satellite office in Owensboro is located inside the RiverValley Behavioral Health Center at 1100 Walnut Street. A grand opening celebration was held Tuesday afternoon.
“This satellite center will help us to meet the growing needs in our area while also assisting in removing barriers for those families that need CAC services,” said Samantha Sigler, executive director of the CAC of the Green River District.
Sigler said while the current center in Henderson serves seven counties, some families have to drive more than an hour to receive services. She said the satellite location in Owensboro will help provide services more efficiently to those in the Daviess, Ohio, and Hancock counties.
According to a release from RVBH, 47.4% of the forensic interviews and medical exams conducted at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Green River District last fiscal year were from Daviess County.
“The possibility of a satellite location has been a 5-year plan in the making. We are so grateful for the dedication of our Board of Directors for supporting this expansion of services,” Sigler said.
Amenities of the Owensboro office include a private waiting area, forensic interview room, observation room/victim advocate space, and medical exam space.
Medical exams at a CAC are more than just an analysis from a physician, officials said. Child victims of abuse receive a mental health screening, a “well-visit” exam, a forensic exam, photo documentation, an examination, and when necessary, labs. The Cortexflo system, sponsored by Churchill Downs, provides unique photographic, data storage, and security requirements necessary for forensic medical examinations.
“The Cortexflo is such a vital part of these examinations,” said Board Certified Child Abuse Pediatrician Dr. Jaqueline Sugarman. “It elevates the quality of my work and the evidence that we’re able to use as part of an investigation. This device also allows me and my colleagues across the commonwealth to provide clinical review that is so valuable and important in the field of child abuse.”
RiverValley has also provided a nurse practitioner, specially trained by the CAC, to perform on-site child abuse medical exams.
“We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to expand access to essential services for children and youth affected by child abuse in our community, made possible through our strong partnership with the Children’s Advocacy Center of the Green River District,” said Dr. Wanda Figueroa-Peralta, RVBH President & CEO. “This collaboration reflects RiverValley’s unwavering commitment to serving our community and ensuring that everyone has access to the mental health support they need.”
