[Archived] News Release - Center for Alexandria’s Children Celebrates Grand Opening

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	September 17, 2007 PIO# 230-07	Jennifer Harris, Communications Officer, at 703.838.5078

Center for Alexandria’s Children Celebrates Grand Opening

The Center for Alexandria’s Children will celebrate its grand opening with a reception featuring U.S. Rep. James P. Moran and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, on Tuesday, September 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Center’s office located at 1900 N. Beauregard St. The Center is a public-private partnership that provides a safe, child-friendly facility to coordinate the investigation, prosecution, treatment and prevention of child abuse.

The Center began its operation in April after six years of collaborative planning by individuals and groups committed to improving the City’s child welfare system. The Alexandria Community Trust secured a state grant to support planning and development. The Alexandria Capital Development Foundation financially supported the physical build-out and individual donors provided start-up funding for the Center’s programs.

As a public-private initiative, the Center for Alexandria’s Children maximizes the use of existing government resources and staff, 27 of whom are located at the Center. This co-location also benefits victims of abuse by reducing the number of interviews that child victims must go through, increasing needed medical examinations and mental health referrals, expanding civil and criminal prosecutions for child abuse or neglect, and achieving significant cost savings (averaging $1,300 per case). The Center also offers improved abuse prevention programs with partner organizations that provide parent education and other family support programs to strengthen vulnerable children and their families.

“The Center for Alexandria’s Children is an important addition to our City’s social service network,” said founding Chairman Nigel Morris. “Bringing together the key public and private experts will help make sure children and families get the help they need to heal.”

The Center’s board members include the Chief of Police, the Sheriff, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, the Director of the Department of Human Services, and the Director of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse. Partner organizations include the Office on Women, SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now of Northern Virginia), and Northern Virginia Family Services, as well as other individuals, nonprofits, and City agencies.

For more information, please contact Vicky Youcha, Executive Director, at 703.838.4381, ext 490, or email vyoucha@alexandriaschildren.org.

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