Wednesday, December 20, 2017

CHILDREN’S FUND RECEIVES SECOND INSTALLMENT OF $1,000,000 GRANT

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians provides funding
for Children’s Assessment Center

Dr. Ciriaco "Cid" Pinedo accepts the check from San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

SAN BERNARDINO, California (Thursday, December 21, 2017) – Nonprofit Children’s Fund received the second installment of the $1,000,000 grant the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians awarded for the Children’s Assessment Center in 2016. The grant will be awarded over a three-year period for increased services for San Bernardino's abused and neglected children being treated at the Center.

The Children's Assessment Center (CAC) treats children ages 0-18, as well as developmentally delayed young adults, from every area of San Bernardino County who are suspected victims of physical and sexual abuse, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic status.

“There are only about 300 child abuse doctors in the entire country,” says Dr. Amy Young, the Medical Director at the CAC.  “Therefore, the best way to secure more medical staff at the CAC is to offer Forensic Pediatric Fellowships, essentially growing and retaining local expertise.”

The grant from the San Manuel Tribe will fund a new Pediatric Fellow each year, for three years, and other medical personnel.  The CAC currently has two Fellows completing their training. Other medical personnel throughout the county are receiving on-going training in areas such as abusive head trauma, dental aspects of child abuse, and specialized training for nurse practitioners.

Child abuse, particularly experienced when children are young, causes stress that can disrupt early brain and physical development, placing mistreated young children at higher risk for health problems as adults.

Children who are abused or neglected also are more likely to repeat the cycle of violence by entering into violent relationships as teens and adults or abusing their own children.

At the CAC, victims not only receive treatment for the physical or sexual abuse.  The children also receive treatment and referrals for therapy for the trauma they’ve been through.

“The $300,000 received this year will be used to train more pediatric fellows and move the CAC toward long-term stability,” says Dr. Ciriaco “Cid” Pinedo, President & CEO of Children’s Fund. “Children are society’s most precious asset and with the support of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, we will be able to increase our capacity at the CAC and treat over 3,000 children each year.”



The Children's Assessment Center (CAC) opened in 1994, in partnership between the County of San Bernardino, Loma Linda University Children's Hospital and Children's Fund to provide comprehensive services to child victims of maltreatment. For more information, visit http://www.cacsbc.com.  

Founded in 1986, Children’s Fund is a nonprofit whose mission is giving our vulnerable children support, opportunity and hope by breaking destructive cycles through community partnerships. Since its inception, Children’s Fund has served more than 1.5 million children. For more information on Children’s Fund or to learn how you can give a child hope for brighter tomorrows, go to www.childrensfund.org or call 909.379.0000.

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