The Childrens Place Inc

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - OVER THE COURSE OF 24 YEARS, THE CHILDREN’S PLACE HAS HELPED OUR COMMUNITY’S CHILDREN THROUGH FORENSIC INTERVIEWS, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND FAMILY ADVOCACY SERVICES IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING EDUCATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE CHILDREN’S PLACE IS A COMMUNITY LEADER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THE CHILDREN’S PLACE IS NOW OFFERING THERAPY TO CHILD VICTIMS OF ABUSE, ALLOWING THEM TO RECEIVE SERVICES RIGHT AWAY AS THEY ARE IN CRISIS, HOWEVER OUR CAPACITY IS LIMITED BY THE SIZE OF OUR CURRENT FACILITY. THE CHILDREN’S PLACE NEEDS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND SPACE TO OPERATE A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM TO MEET THE DEMAND OF OUR COMMUNITIES’ CHILDREN. THE CHILDREN’S PLACE HAS BEEN AWARDED FUNDS THROUGH THE CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING FUNDS THAT WILL START THE PROCESS OF EXPANDING CRITICAL SERVICES FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN ALASKA. THE CHILDREN’S PLACE IS PLANNING TO BUILD-ON AN ADDITIONAL 4,000 SQUARE FEET TO THE CURRENT FACILITY ON LAND ALREADY OWNED, ATTACHED TO THE MAT-SU VALLEY’S ONLY CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER. THIS LOCATION PROVIDES A CENTRAL AND ACCESSIBLE LOCATION FOR THE OFFICES AND SERVICES NEEDED.

THIS PROGRAM FURTHERS THE DEPARTMENT'S MISSION BY PROVIDING COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR ENHANCEMENT AND EXPANSION OF CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS (CACS) TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT OJJDP DESIGNATES. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE THE COVERAGE AND CAPACITY OF CAC SERVICES IN ALASKA FOR CHILD VICTIMS OF ABUSE. THE CHILDREN’S PLACE SERVES THE MATANUSKA SUSITNA BOROUGH, A 25,258-SQUARE-MILE AREA WITH 31 COMMUNITIES AND, AS OF 2019, A POPULATION OF 106,438. THE CHILDREN’S PLACE PROVIDES FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMS AND INTERVIEWS IN A CHILD-FRIENDLY FACILITY FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSED. THE CHILDREN’S PLACE ALSO RESPONDS TO OTHER CASES OF SEVERE ABUSE AND NEGLECT. AN MDT WORKS TOGETHER TO PROVIDE CARE, ADVOCACY, AND JUSTICE FOR OUR PATIENTS SO THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT RETRAUMATIZED BY THE EVALUATION AND INVESTIGATION OF ABUSE. THE CHILDREN’S PLACE WILL FOCUS PRIMARILY ON PROVIDING COUNSELING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF ABUSE. THE SECONDARY FOCUS WILL BE TRAINING FOR STAFF TO SUPPORT RESILIENCY AND SHARPEN SKILLS IN ALL AREAS OF OPERATION. THE FINAL FOCUS AREA IS TO SUPPORT PART OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S SALARY AND THE MEDICAL BILLER’S SALARY, AS BOTH POSITIONS WILL BE HANDS-ON IN DEVELOPING THIS NEW PROGRAM AND LEARNING TO BILL INSURANCE FOR COUNSELING SERVICES. CA/NCF