Western Virginia Child Intercession Network Editions Report 2024. Statistics on Violence Over Children – Parkersburg News

(Photo Illustration – MetrocreativeConnection)

Charleston – Advocate Network for Children in West Virginia (WVCan) has released its data for the whole country for fiscal 2024 (July 1, 2023 until June 30, 2024) on Monday. The data in the report reflect the service from the 21st Center for Advocate of Children (CACS) of West Virginia, which provide official service to 47 of 55 counties in the state. CAC provides a safe, suitable facility in which the child’s defenders, criminal justice and child treatment specialists work together to investigate abuse, keep the offenders and help children cure. During the year, CACS serves 4 909 children – an 8% increase in new children served in the last five years. At the local level, the North star children’s intercession center (NSCAC) has made 570 trial interviews, a 6% reduction compared to the last fiscal year. NSCAC performed 28 medical evaluations and/or treatment of children and started therapy or consultation for 118 children. Some North Star 23-24 reports include: * 39% of the children served were there because of allegations of sexual abuse. * 34% of the children served were there because of allegations of drug endangers, 18% higher than the average for the state and 30% higher than the national average. * 44% of children served by NSCAC are between 7-12 years old. * 27% of children served by NSCAC are between the ages of 0-6 years. * 96% of the alleged violators are someone whom the child knew, 47% are biological parents. * 47% of children are reported to have one or more disabilities, 17% higher than the average for the state. * From the interviewee, 79% reveal abuse, the rest did not. * Cases with charges, 54, up to 10 of the last fiscal year. This is the highest after the report 20-21. * 24 cases were charged, nine higher than the last fiscal year. This is the highest after the report 20-21. * North Star’s operational budget is currently 605 389 dollars – state subsidies – 23% – federal subsidies – 38% – Municipal funding (Vienna City) – 2% – Foundations – 14% – Corporations – 1% – Donation/Recruit Means – 9% – the United Kingdom way – 2% – others (training, etc.) – 11%
“Although I realize that these statistics are somewhat subjective, they give us a really good understanding of what we see during the year and help us make adjustments if necessary to do better work for our children,” Greg Collins said, CEO of North Star. “I think the most important function of this annual statistics is that it allows the communities we serve to know exactly what we are doing. I think public education about how bad is what leads to a call for action for many. “
Asked about the reduction of court interviews, Collins said the answer was probably found in restructuring children’s protection services rather than reducing the need.
“North Star, CPS, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors maintain an open and honor dialogue about what happens in our cases. In conversations with CPS last July, after observing the reduction, it seems that CPS’s efforts across the country to improve their entire organization, the priorities of cases and the workload of cases have the most to reduce forensic interviews. No one in our circle believes that there was certainly a decrease in violence against children, “ Collins said. Collins came to the North Star in March 2021 after retiring from the Parkersburg Police Department. He said this was the first year after his arrival that the North Star had dropped below 600 trial interviews during the calendar year.
“Ironically, after some consecutive brutal years, 2024 was the most healthy, mental and emotional, I saw my staff. Since only six employees who make the interview and the same staff members also make a family intercession, it’s a heavy elevator for them every day. For several months, the stories coming through the front door have tingled and seem to be not released. These staff, CPS, law enforcement agencies do not receive the merit they deserve to fight these battles for children who cannot fight for them for themselves. This is a fact, “ he said. When the future predicted for NSCAC, Collins said that if January was an indication of what it would look like 2025, North Star would be for another difficult year.
“In January, with 21 working days on the calendar, NSCAC made 49 forensic interviews, with many being very difficult. With North Star is Center 24/7/365, our hours and weekend calls are also increasing, “ he said. “You can look at our parking lot in the morning or early in the morning and see it full of cars from North Star, CPS and law enforcement officers, which are collected to help our children. When the case guarantees, our prosecutors will also be here, everyone in an attempt to achieve as best as possible for our children. The increase in the number that is responsible for displaying their efforts is paid. We are all trying to do better. There are monthly meetings where all mentioned people gather in each of the five counties we serve to talk about what is happening with each case. Very few know how laborious it is. These people are heroes, simple like this, “ Collins said. Collins said NSCAC was funded by 61% of state and federal subsidies. A month after its arrival in 2021, before that, the healthy federal grant was frozen after it was revealed to be at risk of dissolution. It remains frozen since then with any growth that has happened strictly from local resources. Currently, the federal grant is 38% of the North Star budget. If Voca was reduced by 74% in October 2025, as intended, Voca funds go to North Star will pass from $ 227,273 to $ 591.00, a discount of $ 168,182. Collins said that since 2021 they have worked hard to try to compensate for the predicted decline in grant financing and the report outlined just that.
“We asked the local authorities for budget assistance with the passage of the city of Vienna. Our community came to our help with our donations and efforts to raise funds, which now represent 9% of our budget. Our foundations continue to be a pillar for us, representing 16% of our budget, with the Sisters’ Health Foundation and the United Road leading this effort, “” he said. The report includes data on the demographic data of the victims, alleged demographic offenders, reports against the disclosed abuse, services performed, a response to criminal justice and a breakdown of the CAC’s income budget. People can contact North Star at 304-917-4437 or by email [email protected] to receive a copy of the full report or learn more about how to help. You can find more information at Northstarcac.org or follow them on Facebook or Instagram. People who want to contribute to a donation beyond life can contact the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation (PACF) to leave a donation or hereditary gift. Wvcan provides leadership across the country in the fight against violence against children while working side by side with the 21 Centers for Advocate Children throughout the State. WVCAN provides training, technical assistance, leadership, legislative and advocacy of policy and complete coordination of the advocacy centers for children in the state. CAC is a facility suitable for children in which the child’s protection, criminal justice and child treatment specialists work together to investigate abuse, keep the offenders and help children cure. Instead of having a child taken from an agency to an agency to undergo multiple interviews, the CAC model coordinates the response around the child as an effective, child -oriented process. As the state body of multidisciplinary approaches to support child victims of abuse, the aim of WVCAN is to enable local communities to provide complete, coordinated and compassionate services to victims of violence against children.