Women’s Giving Fund Grant Finalist 2016 – Summit County Children’s Justice Center

Award: $30,000 toward the implementation of an on-site medical team for children referred to Children’s Justice Center (CJC) by law enforcement, including medical exam equipment, professional training for staff and educational material for parents. Since 2016, the Community for Summit County Children’s Justice Center, a non-profit (501c3) organization, has been operating to help strengthen the overall support system of the CJC and has successfully opened the doors of a repurposed residential home for the sole purpose of supporting children of abuse and their families. The medical equipment acquired with support of the Women’s Giving Fund grant is now fully operational in the CJC’s forensic pediatrician’s office. The new facility offers all essential child abuse services under one roof, including forensic investigation, medical and legal support along with multi-disciplinary services to start the victim’s recovery process. This is all accomplished in a comfortable setting designed to limit a child’s trauma and prevent re-traumatization as much as possible. It is no longer necessary for families experiencing child abuse in Summit County to travel to multiple locations for numerous services since a multi-disciplinary team of nearly 25 professionals coordinates all services at this facility. The new facility is owned by the Community for Summit County Children’s Justice Center and leased back to Summit County in perpetuity.