CCAFV: The Center for Child and Family Advocacy


			The Center for Child and Family Advocacy is a collaborative effort between the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence and Nationwide Children's Hospital. This joint initiative services children and families experiencing violence. The Center, headed by former Juvenile Court Judge Yvette McGee Brown, offers treatment, support services, research, training, education, advocacy and prevention. It is the first of its kind in the country to fully integrate child abuse and domestic violence services. Seven organizations work together at the Center to help victims heal and rebuild their lives. Franklin County Children Services, the Columbus Division of Police, Franklin County Sheriff's Office, and Franklin County Prosecutors join the Coalition, the Child Assessment Center and CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence. Prevention services of the center include the Nurse Family Partnership and Help Me Grow programs. Recently, the center added a new program called Fostering Connections. This program is a specialized foster care clinic that offers comprehensive health care services to children and adolescents placed in out-of-home care. By providing initial assessments following placement, well child visits, sick child visits, and care coordination, the clinic provides a medical home to the patients it serves. In a year: The Child Assessment Center sees over 1500 patients for sexual and physical abuse. The Family Support Program counsels over 900 clients. To date, the Nurse Family Partnership has served almost 230 women and their infants. The Help Me Grow program serves almost 900 families whose children have developmental delays or are at risk for a delay. For more information about the Center, please visit www.columbuschildadvocacy.com. For more information about the Victim Services Task Force or any of its initiatives, please write to us.