Story last updated at
10:40 PM on
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Haven House gets certification for new Child Advocacy Center
Kachemak Bay Rotary remodels interview room
BY MICHAEL ARMSTRONG
STAFF WRITER
South Peninsula Haven House has always seen part of its mission to serve children who are victims of abuse, sexual assault or domestic violence, but earlier this year that role become official when Haven House became a member agency of the National Children's Alliance. The alliance is an accrediting agency for more than 600 Children's Advocacy Centers in the United States, including eight such other centers in Alaska.
Photo provided
Peg Coleman, right, sits in the South Peninsula Haven House Child Advocacy Center interview room with Kerry Youngblood, left, incoming president of Kachemak Bay Rotary.
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"It's an increase in the level of our service, and a cost savings to the community to have best practices without starting a whole new agency to do it," said Peg Coleman, executive director of Haven House.
April is Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Coleman said one out of four girls and one out of six boys are victims of child abuse or sexual assault, and children are six times more likely to die of violence than the national average. Alaska ranks 49 out of 50 states in child safety and has the highest per-capita rate of registered sex offenders.
Becoming a Child Advocacy Center makes it easier for Haven House to apply for grant support. It already got local support last month when the Rotary Club of Homer-Kachemak Bay completely remodeled an interview room for Haven House counselors to talk to child victims in a non-threatening setting. Rotary volunteers painted the room and bought furniture, carpeting and other fixtures. Nancy Yaki donated one of her paintings to decorate the room.
"They can interview in a setting that's not clinical," Coleman said. "It's very child friendly."
The room also can be used by other social workers, Homer Police and Alaska State Troopers to interview sexual assault or abuse victims. Coleman said Haven House counselors interview people who are hurt and doesn't do criminal investigations, although the room allows police and troopers to do so with appropriate integrity. The room has video and audio recording equipment, for example.
"We don't determine guilt," Coleman said. "We're there to support the nonoffending caregiver and the victim."
Haven House employees agreed to double-up in offices to make space for the new interview room, Coleman said.
Homer-Kachemak Bay Rotary has been a big supporter of Haven House, Coleman said. It also has set up a fund to provide for emergency medical and therapeutic care.
Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.
