Mary Alice Reporting –
Noah’s Hope Child Advocacy Center conducts interviews for law enforcement related to childhood abuse cases.
The cases can range with interviews ranging in age from under five and older than 18 years old, as it’s not uncommon for children to not report abuse right away with many factors associated to when a why incidents may be disclosed.
Executive Director Mandy Willet says that for 2023, they says 133 females and 46 males, and the numbers continue to subtly increase.
“I became a director in 2019 and that year we saw 78 children, in 2020 saw 119 children, 2021 we saw 152, and 2022 was 159, so it’s went up 20 kids since the previous year.”
In an age range breakdown, 28 interviews were with children zero to five years old, 78 from age six to 12, in the 13 to 17 age category Noah’s Hope saw 68 youth and over 18 years old there were five.
The Center, located on E. High Avenue, is able to provide a safer and neutral environment for conducting interviews, adds Willet.
“Watching the interview live, that includes child protective services, victim advocates, law enforcement, so they’re watching it [and] when we’re about done with the interview, we take a break and go and see If those people have any questions. If they do just that interviewer goes back in and speaks with that child, that way they are not having to tell their experience to a whole bunch of different people.”
Noah’s Hope also provides victim advocacy to help refer or link children with counseling services, medical exams, and other community resources.
To learn more about the non-profit, fin them on Facebook or go online to www.noahshopecac.org.
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