Child advocacy centers expand into Mason County, reaching more kids amid WV’s high child abuse rate

Child advocacy centers are expanding in West Virginia, now offering critical services to victims of child abuse. More than 95% of children in the state have access to the centers after the addition of a mobile center to serve Mason County, and the centers now cover 49 counties. 

West Virginia has the third highest rate of child abuse cases in the country, according to federal data. 

A child advocacy center can be a starting point for a child victim to receive help. The centers provide a safe, child-friendly facility where child protection, criminal justice and child treatment professionals work together to investigate abuse, hold offenders accountable and help children.

The organization recently announced an expansion into Mason County through Hoops Family Children’s Hospital at Cabell Huntington Hospital. 

“Even in small counties, we are, as teams, deciding that we’re going to take care of the kids — that experience things that they never should,” said Angie Seay, coordinator for the Child Advocacy Center at Hoops Family Children’s Hospital.

Earlier this year, child advocacy centers in West Virginia reported an increase in the number of children served — a 7.5% increase in new children served over the past five years. The centers supported more than 4,732 children last year; nearly half of the children served were referred to the advocacy centers due to allegations of sexual abuse.

During more than 4,600 interviews, 66% of children disclosed abuse.

Children are often referred to therapy or counseling following their interaction with a child advocacy center.

The Child Advocacy Center at Hoops Family Children’s Hospital opened nine years ago and has been serving Cabell and Wayne counties. Seay said it was a personal goal to expand services into Mason County.

“It becomes our goal, I think, for everybody to be served. It’s like we’re so close. It’s exciting to think that we could put one more piece of the puzzle in place,” said Seay, a former Child Protective Services worker. 

Services in Mason County will be offered on a mobile unit called the “Marco Bus” through Marshall Health. 

“We will be serving them in their counties on our mobile unit, and that is completely unique to every other CAC in West Virginia,” Seay said.

Forensic interviews will be recorded securely through a technology system in the mobile unit, Seay explained. 

“We will be able to provide forensic interviews and medical exams while also allowing the team, which is our multidisciplinary partners, our law enforcement and prosecutors and CPS workers, to observe in their counties,” she said.

Children in Mason County will also have access to other child advocacy center services, including medical exams, referral to critical medical and therapy services and more. 

Seay stressed groups she works with, like law enforcement agencies and CPS, in her counties serving children who are victims of crime signed onto a memorandum of understanding to ensure a specific approach while helping children heal in a research-backed, trauma-informed environment.

“It’s because we want to serve the kids in the best way that we can,” she said. 

The coordinated work reduces time and overall cost of child abuse investigations, according to Woodard.

In 2006, there were only 2 nationally accredited CACs in WV, serving children and families in 4 counties, Woodard said. Now, there are 21 CACs.

“All 21 CACs — 100% — are nationally accredited centers who have reached the highest level of CAC development and service provision,” she said.