Foothills Child Advocacy Center is the only non-profit organization dedicated to serving child victims of abuse in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the surrounding counties.
It has taken the generosity of many to establish and sustain Foothills over the past ten years. We are so grateful to all who have given - and give - of their time, treasure, and talent to help child victims!
We hope you enjoy this gratitude report -- just scroll down to read.
Your gifts...
Create safety.
"When I got here I was scared, but now this place feels like home. I loved that they were very nice. I want to be here every Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday."
Your gifts make it possible for Foothills to provide a safe, child-friendly facility. The warm colors and bright multi-cultural artwork, books, toys, and puzzles say “welcome, you are safe here” to the children and teens. The staff is trained to provide a non-judgmental, culturally sensitive, and caring environment.
Listen.
The forensic interview room
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"The place just felt safe. The lady listened, and everyone was friendly." The Child Advocacy Center model was designed to reduce trauma for child victims of abuse. Before Foothills was established by the Charlottesville and Albemarle Commission on Family and Children, child victims in our community would have to visit several different agencies and be interviewed over and over, up to 15 times, resulting in ongoing re-traumatization. Now, the majority of the interviews are conducted by Foothills' highly qualified child forensic interviewer. The interviews are observed by investigators and recorded so that the child does not have to be interviewed more than once (in most cases). Read more. |
Heal. |
A child gave this drawing to the staff.
"They made me feel like helping my child was a priority to them."
The non-offending parents and caregivers are often overwhelmed and unsure of how to help their children. Foothills' family support specialist provides crisis intervention, education, and risk, needs, and trauma assessments to help them cope. She works with our partner agencies to make referrals for needed services so that the families can provide safe, healing environments for their children moving forward.
Engage.
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"We had the opportunity to meet with Foothills staff, which was immensely helpful because most of our staff are new." The Charlottesville and Albemarle Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) of 14 local agencies is facilitated by Foothills staff. This dedicated team meets twice monthly to review cases, to make sure that the children's needs are being met, and to exchange information so that they can make decisions in the best interest of the child. These caring professionals go above and beyond, always putting the welfare of the child first. The slideshow to the left includes some of the MDT members, both former and current. Read more. Foothills staff also participate in the MDTs of surrounding counties. |
Educate.
"I believe that this is a powerful training activity, and I recommend it to any adult."
Foothills recognizes the crucial role of adults in identifying and stopping child abuse. Through its Public Education and Outreach Program, Foothills works to educate adults about the prevalence and impact of child abuse, their responsibility to identify, report, and stop child maltreatment, how to prevent child abuse, and the best way to respond to child victims. Foothills also provides training to MDT and other local professionals on best practices in serving abused children. These trainings are only possible because of the generosity of our friends and supporters. Read more.
Foothills recognizes the crucial role of adults in identifying and stopping child abuse. Through its Public Education and Outreach Program, Foothills works to educate adults about the prevalence and impact of child abuse, their responsibility to identify, report, and stop child maltreatment, how to prevent child abuse, and the best way to respond to child victims. Foothills also provides training to MDT and other local professionals on best practices in serving abused children. These trainings are only possible because of the generosity of our friends and supporters. Read more.
TEN YEARS OF SERVICE
Your gifts have helped to provide...
… a safe, child-friendly environment for nearly 2,000 children and their families in the Charlottesville and Albemarle area.
… more than 1,500 legally sound forensic interviews that reduce child re-traumatization and gather accurate information.
… more than 11,000 services to the families, which helped them to provide a safe and healing environment for their children.
… coordination of 14 local agencies who work together in the best interest of the child and who have together conducted
more than 4,000 case reviews to be sure that the children’s needs are met.
… education and training on child abuse issues and how to prevent and stop child abuse to more than 2,800 adults.
… a safe, child-friendly environment for nearly 2,000 children and their families in the Charlottesville and Albemarle area.
… more than 1,500 legally sound forensic interviews that reduce child re-traumatization and gather accurate information.
… more than 11,000 services to the families, which helped them to provide a safe and healing environment for their children.
… coordination of 14 local agencies who work together in the best interest of the child and who have together conducted
more than 4,000 case reviews to be sure that the children’s needs are met.
… education and training on child abuse issues and how to prevent and stop child abuse to more than 2,800 adults.
Visit our Wall of Heroes -- where we list the generous adults and organizations who made these ten years possible!
Many of you also gave of your time and talent through the years!
Your Gifts... helped good things to happen in FY 2016!
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Highlights of the year included:
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FY 2016 AT A GLANCE (Download the sheet.)
Your Gifts this year are appreciated -- and needed!
Your gifts will continue to make a direct and positive impact on the lives of child victims and their families in our community.
- In FY 2016, Foothills served 256 new children, which represented a significant increase (18%) in the number of children served over FY 2015.
- Already in the first quarter of our current fiscal year, Foothills has seen an even greater increase (25%) in the number of children who need our help, compared with the same quarter last year.
- This year Foothills is projecting that it will serve 325 new children!
- Continued improvement of medical services for child victims of abuse;
- Relocating to a larger facility so that we have room for more staff;
- Adding staff to be able to meet the needs of the child victims in our community.
- And continually improving the services we offer to these children.
- The 2017 Charlottesville Ten Miler -- thank you, Charlottesville Track Club!
- And fundraising.
Thank you so much for Your Gifts! You are heroes for kids!
Foothills Child Advocacy Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and is fully accredited by the National Children's Alliance.
For More Information
Contact the executive director, Cathee Johnson Phillips at cjphillips@foothillscac.org.
Participate in our training.
Request a tour of the facility.
Follow these links:
Read the About Us page.
Read previous annual reports and the 990s.
Review five years of statistics.
Download the history.