BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Just For Kids, Inc. is hosting our annual golf tournament on Friday, August 19t at Glade Springs Resort, Woodhaven Course. Now in its eleventh year, the Golf Classic is a major fundraiser for our child advocacy center. The event is an opportunity for the community to learn more about the work of our child advocacy center, enjoy a beautiful golf course and bolster the efforts of Just For Kids in reducing trauma and raising awareness about child sexual abuse in Southern West Virginia.
This year’s Title Sponsors are John and Tali Stepp. The Stepps have worked for many years to assure that Just For Kids has the resources needed to provide the best support possible to the children who come for services. Our Tournament Sponsors are Kris and Mark Serbinski. The Serbinski’s believe that every child who is traumatized by abuse deserves the caring services that Just For Kids and the whole multi-disciplinary team provides in Raleigh and Fayette County.
Platinum sponsors include: A2 Tent Rentals, Apex Towers/Highland Holdings, Rick and Stoya Lay, Bill and Mary Lee, Tom and Sally Lemke, Lissa Mohler and Marcy Nolan, David and Karen Rainey, Raleigh General Hospital, and Sue Rice and Elke Falkenberg. These businesses and families go above and beyond in supporting the collaborative services that Just For Kids provides to every family in our service area.
Our Gold Sponsors include: Jan Allen and Judy Street, Ameriprise Financial, Terry and Chip Carstensen, Childress and Willis, DDS, Rick and Pat Macak, McDonald’s, the Real Housewives of Glade Springs, John and Linda Stroud, Tamarack Marketplace, Jerry and Glenda Wait, and, Bob and Mary Ann Worley. These sponsors remind us of how important local community support is in spreading awareness and protecting children who are victims of abuse.
In addition, we have 11 silver sponsors, over 80 hole sponsors, and 26 teams already registered for the tournament. Please be in touch with Just For Kids at 304-255-4834 if you would like to join the above organizations in sponsoring this event as more and more sponsors are contacting us daily.
“This tournament is a way to spread the word about the work we do and to raise needed funds for the children we serve.” said Marcy Nolan, Just For Kids Board President. “I am continually impressed by the interest and support that the golfing community has in raising the needed funds to continue the essential services that Just For Kids provides in the community.”
Just For Kids Child Advocacy Center moved into “Trudy’s House”, the former Ambrosia Inn this spring. Scott Miller, Executive Director commented that, “We have seen a dramatic change in both the children and families that come for services and in the professional team that assist in the work. All are excited to come into a home setting that is child friendly, spacious and soothing to the soul. The environment plays a big role in reducing trauma for a child who has just experienced abuse, and in so many instances allows the child to have the courage to tell their story. We continue to follow Covid protocols that have allowed us to never shut our doors and continue to provide a safe and child friendly space for children who come to us for help. If you suspect that a child is being abused, be sure to report it to the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-352-6513. It takes courage to speak up.”
Last year, despite the pandemic, Just For Kids Child Advocacy Center:
- Interviewed 316 children who were alleged victims of child sexual abuse, physical abuse or witness to violent crimes.
- 80% of those children disclosed actual abuse that they suffered. As hard as it is to imagine that so many children are being abused,
- only 1 in 10 children tell, so there are likely
- Over 3000 children in Raleigh and Fayette Counties who were criminally abused last year.
- Our three forensic interviewers get called by either child protective services or law enforcement to arrange an interview for a child when allegations arise.
- They conduct an average of 25 interviews a month. These children have been sexually or criminally abused, witnessed a violent crime, or experience severe neglect.
- 73% of the children we serve are under 12 years old.
As a nationally accredited child advocacy center, our four main goals are to:
- Work as a team with law enforcement, child protective services and the prosecutor’s office to provide a friendly environment in which to conduct forensic interviews of children who have been subject to criminal child abuse;
- Provide a family advocate to work with the child and family;
- Offer counseling to those children who disclose abuse; and,
- Provide prevention and awareness training in the communities we serve. Our new Outreach Advocate would love to meet and talk with you about opportunities to change the conversation about child sexual abuse.
Offices are located in Beckley at, Trudy’s House on N. Kanawha Street and on Jones Avenue in Oak Hill. Just For Kids also provides the Stewards of Children program, a nationally recognized abuse prevention program for adults in the community as well as prevention outreach training for children in school settings. For more information about Just For Kids, contact us at 304-255-4834 or visit our website at www.jfkwv.com .