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| Children's Assessment Center Reception Area |
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| Play room for children so they feel comfortable |
Children’s Fund has been awarded a $100,000 grant by the
San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to enable the San Bernardino County Children’s
Assessment Center to provide quality
medical services to the County’s most vulnerable children- those who have been
physically or sexually abused, or severely neglected.
The Children’s Assessment Center treats children ages
0-18, as well as developmentally delayed young adults, from every area of San
Bernardino County who are suspected victims of abuse. Last year, 45% of the
children seen at the Assessment Center were under the age of 5, signaling that
a significant portion of the population served by this Center are very young
and often cannot speak for themselves.
Last year, the Center treated more than 1,600 children from our own
communities.
“Children’s Fund is grateful that the San Manuel Band of
Mission Indians has prioritized improving health outcomes, especially for our
region’s vulnerable abused and neglected children. ” states Erin Phillips, President and CEO of
Children’s Fund. “As the fundraising arm
for the Children’s Assessment Center, together we work to protect children from
living a life in harm and without basic necessities. San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ grant at
this critical time, when the need is so great, will help provide life-saving
services.”
This investment by the San Manuel Band of Mission
Indians, in partnership with Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and the
County of San Bernardino, will support the medical services performed at the
Children’s Assessment Center. These exams
assess injuries as well as capture evidence that assist in the evaluation of the
child abuse allegation. Additionally, at
the child-friendly Center, youth are able to tell their story once, to all
appropriate personnel, significantly reducing their trauma during the
investigative process. Additional partners include Children & Family
Services, Sheriff’s Department & Police Association, District Attorney’s
Office, Department of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Health,
Children’s Network and Family Law Court Services. This investment, along with the support of all
of these agencies working together, will make a strong and lasting impact on
the Center’s ability to serve our community.
