Family Resource Center, Inc.

Lester House Child Advocacy Center

Lester House Child Advocacy Center Located at 450 W. Monroe Street, Wytheville, VA Call: 276.228.3522 The concept of the Child Advocacy Center model is a cooperative team approach to reduce the trauma for children and families that unavoidably comes with the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases. This means joint investigations with law enforcement and the Department of Social Services, team-based problem solving, and improved communication among the providers to allow for child abuse and neglect victims and their families to receive the highest quality of comprehensive services available. Investigations become more sensitive to and allow for children’s special needs throughout the legal process—particularly during the interviewing phases of the investigation. Team meetings provide opportunities to increase understanding of the roles each agency provides and how professional child advocacy (such as the services provided by FRC’s advocates) aids in the reduction of re-victimization. Prior to Lester House, the closest Child Advocacy Center (CAC) facilities (with digitally recording equipment and forensic interviewing professionals) were 90 minutes away from Wythe County—making them logistically difficult to access and seldom used. Lester House was named in memory of Steve Lester, Sr., and in recognition of Steve Lester, Jr. and his family for their continued support and contribution to the work of FRC. The Lester family has generously worked with FRC to accomplish the goal of a child advocacy center in our service area. The estimated combined direct and indirect costs resulting from child abuse and neglect in the U.S. is more than $94 billion a year. See a sample of costs from a 1996 report (below). The overall physical, psychological, behavioral, and societal costs associated with the immediate needs of and the long-term and/or secondary effects on child abuse and neglect victims is beyond calculation. The cost effectiveness is clear when you consider the adults in children’s lives make a difference in many ways. They control whether or not children will have the opportunity to talk about their experiences with someone who can help them to understand what is happening. They can support healing—or they can place roadblocks in the way. These adults include parents, advocates, social workers, lawyers, law enforcement, ministers, teachers, grandparents, other family members and friends. Our efforts are cost effective in that they reduce the physical, psychological, behavioral and societal costs to these children and their families by supporting healing and reducing trauma. *Sample of Service Costs Resulting from Child Abuse & Neglect in the U.S. Chronic Health Problems                                $6,410 annually per child Mental Health Care System                             $2,860 annually per family Law Enforcement: child sexual abuse          $56 per incident Law Enforcement: physical abuse                 $20 per incident Law Enforcement: emotional abuse              $20 per incident Law Enforcement: educational neglect         $2 per incident Judicial System                                                  $1,372 per child maltreatment case Special Education                                             $655 annually per child Mental Health and Health Care                      $50 annually per individual Juvenile Delinquency                                      $62,966 annually per child incarceration Donations to support the operation of the Child Advocacy Center are needed. FRC diligently pursues all possible sources of revenue to fulfill our mission; we seek the support of the local governments, United Ways, and available private foundation grants. However, our continued operation as a non-profit will always depend on the generosity of the individuals, churches, and organizations in the communities we serve. Not only do funders require that we obtain community financial support, but the federal and state funding we receive is not enough to cover the cost for the extensive services we provide. We are very appreciative to have the support of the community to continue our important work.