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February 23, 2015
Bronx Child Advocacy Center Opens
On Monday, February 23, Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Commissioner Gladys Carrión cut the ribbon to officially open the new Bronx Child Advocacy Center (CAC) located at 1775 Grand Concourse. She was joined by Ariel Zwang, Chief Executive Officer Safe Horizon, Elizabeth Cronin, Director New York State Office of Victim Services, and other city and state officials.
The Center, which is administered by Safe Horizon, is a child-friendly facility where child victims of sexual abuse and severe physical abuse will be provided with swift, comprehensive services. With the opening of the Bronx location, there will be a CAC in every borough, each of which is coordinated by Safe Horizons in collaboration with medical, law enforcement, legal, and social service communities.
In her welcoming remarks Commissioner Carrión noted the significant need for a CAC in the Bronx where over 30% of all reports of child abuse and neglect in the city originate—the highest of all boroughs. “Children and families in the Bronx will have access to critical services and support like medical evaluations, evidenced-based mental health interventions, and forensic interviews, all from a ‘one-stop’ location, she said. She thanked Safe Horizon for their pioneering work coordinating CACs in the city, adding, “We couldn’t have asked for a better partner than Safe Horizon—a national leader working with young victims of abuse.
Joining Commissioner Carrión for the opening were Safe Horizon leadership including Liz Roberts, Deputy CEO & Chief Program Officer, Nancy Arnow, Vice President of Child, Adolescent and Mental Health Treatment Services, city and state legislators, and members of the NYPD.
The Bronx CAC will host 65 key personnel to support coordinated services and child abuse investigations, including: expert medical professionals, forensic and clinical specialists from Safe Horizon, ACS child protective specialists, NYPD Special Victims Unit Detectives, and Special Victims Bureau prosecutors from the Bronx District Attorney’s office. The center is open between the hours of 9:00 in the morning to 10:00 at night, with services offered in in multiple languages.
Visit Safe Horizon for more information on the Bronx CAC. (LINK!)
ACS OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
Contact: pressoffice@acs.nyc.gov (212) 341-0999