Child Advocacy Centers play critical roles in minimizing further trauma during child abuse investigations.
Open Arms Child Advocacy Center in White Cloud works with law enforcement and helps facilitate forensic interviews.
The goal is to keep victims comfortable and allow them to share their abuse only once. They serve Newaygo, Lake, Mecosta and Osceola Counties.
With such a large distance to cover, gas prices are a hurdle for some families to get to the center. But, thanks to grants, the center can help alleviate some of the burden.
“Families are having to travel a distance to get to us, and that can be a barrier. And so with the two grants that we receive, we’re able to provide the gas assistance to the families and make it a little bit easier for them. We got 400 from the United Church of Big Rapids, and then we received 800 from Great Lakes Energy from their People’s Fund,” Laura Britting, the executive director for Open Arms Child Advocacy Center, said.
The center says the grants can help as many as 60 families put gas in their tank to make the trips.
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