Recognized For Its Delivery Of High Quality And Effective Services To Child Abuse Victims
Kingston, NY- County Executive Mike Hein is pleased to announce that the Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center (FCAC) has been awarded accreditation by the National Children’s Alliance following an extensive application and site review process. As the accrediting agency for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) across the country, National Children’s Alliance awards various levels of accreditation and membership to centers responding to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient, and put the needs of child victims first. Accreditation is the highest level of membership with National Children’s Alliance and denotes excellence in service provision.
County Executive Michael P. Hein
“The Family and Child Advocacy Center is an extremely important place that’s essential for helping children and families in crisis. It is a single location where child victims can find refuge from abuse and begin the healing process. It is a place that compassionately brings services to children and families while holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring justice. It is a place, that as a parent, I constantly pray is never needed, but I am proud it is available for those in their moment of greatest need,” said County Executive Mike Hein. “The accreditation from the National Children’s Alliance is the result of the amazing work being accomplished by the Center in conjunction with the Ulster County Department of Social Services, District Attorney Holley Carnright, Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum, as well as the New York State Police and local law enforcement agencies, who are dedicated to investigating incidents of child abuse, domestic violence and assaults on the elderly. I also want to thank those additional members of the team, the professionals who offer important services and support to the victims, whether it is the trauma specialists, physicians, victim advocates or educational trainers. This accreditation was possible due to the outstanding teamwork of the various agencies and professionals, making a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable in our community.”
Teresa Huizar, Executive Director of National Children’s Alliance
“The Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center is to be commended for its excellent work serving victims of child abuse. As the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers across the Country, our goal is to ensure that every victim of child abuse has access to high quality services that result from professional collaboration,” remarked Teresa Huizar, Executive Director of National Children’s Alliance.
Holley Carnright, Ulster County District Attorney
“My Office recognizes the importance of this accreditation from the National Children’s Alliance and supports the multi-disciplinary team approach which has allowed us to provide real results,” said District Attorney Holley Carnright. “This accreditation not only validates the County’s proven effective approach to responding to allegations of child abuse, but also provides consistency across the child advocacy center movement as a whole. FCAC in partnership with my office and the various law enforcement agencies is a valuable tool to help those in need. County Executive Hein’s support of the Family and Child Advocacy Center has allowed the FCAC to be better equipped to investigate and prosecute individuals who prey on their victims in order to serve the County’s most vulnerable.”
Michael Iapoce, Commissioner of Social Services
"While the work performed at the FCAC has long been recognized within Ulster County and across New York State, the recent Accreditation through the National Children’s Alliance verifies the excellent standards maintained at our Center,” said Michael Iapoce, Commissioner of Social Services. “We are very proud to add this latest acknowledgement of the quality of services we are able to provide to victims and their non-offending caregivers. This truly demonstrates what can be accomplished by joining forces to create a multi-disciplinary team with the expertise and facilities to effectively investigate incidents of child abuse and domestic violence, and that together we can make a difference. I appreciate County Executive Hein’s continued commitment to the FCAC."
The primary mission of the Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center is to minimize secondary trauma to children and non-offending family members while ensuring safety to all family members and the Community at large. This is accomplished through the efficient use of existing resources to ensure a timely and professional response to incidents of family violence including child sexual abuse.
The Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center originated as a multi-disciplinary team under the auspices of the Department of Social Services in 1994. At that time, dedicated Child Protective Service workers and Law Enforcement Officers were co-located at the Department of Social Services and the unit was called the Family Violence Unit. Over the years, the multi-disciplinary team was expanded and in 2012, County Executive Mike Hein, together with District Attorney Holley Carnright, Commissioner of Social Services Michael Iapoce, and the New York State Police opened the Family and Child Advocacy Center situated in a stand-alone building at 21 O’Neil Street in Kingston, housing dedicated Child Protective Services staff, Law Enforcement Officers, District Attorney staff, a Trauma Therapist, medical exam facilities, Victim Advocates, and a FCAC Director. The Family Unit was re-named the Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center dedicated to providing comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate services to victims of child abuse. The Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center can be reached at 845-334-5155 and for more information please visit http://ulstercountyny.gov/district-attorney/ulster-county-family-violence-investigative-unit.
Pictured below: Photo of County Executive Mike Hein and Commissioner of Social Services Michael Iapoce
