THE HISTORY OF

 Home • Goals • Mission • History • Services • Donate • Board of Directors


JACY (Justice and Advocacy Center for Youth) House, a program of The Children’s Justice and Advocacy Center, was created to meet the needs of abused children and their families in a warm, non-threatening environment with a single, comprehensive investigative interview.  The center strives to reduce the trauma to the child caused by multiple interviews, while improving the quality of evidence gathered to quickly and efficiently resolve cases through the use of a multidisciplinary team and specially trained interviewers.

 

 

An indication of our success in creating partnerships is the fact that all of the agencies involved in the investigation of child maltreatment are represented on our board and investigative team…child protection, law enforcement, prosecutors, school counselors, medical  and mental health professionals.

 

 

In addition to the donation of a facility by our local hospital, Reid Hospital & Health Care Services, JACY House has the support of the Wayne County Foundation, the United Way, and local organizations and businesses. In addition, The Wayne County Department of Family and Children, Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office and Wayne County Sheriff’s Department offer annual financial support, as well.  Clearly, community support for this program is well established.  Programs that are developed and managed by a community for a community make a striking impact.

 

Since JACY House opened its doors in 2003, nearly 800 children have been interviewed in a home-like setting which produces a non-threatening atmosphere.  Anyone who interviews a child has been through the “Finding Words” training program. This is a successful program on how to interview children without increasing the stress to the child.

 

 Another program began in 2004 is a body safety program, “Good Touch, Bad Touch™”.  This widely known and respected program is taught in the area’s elementary schools. This program is a three day program that teaches children that they have the right to say no and to know that they can tell if someone is hurting them.

 

 Beginning in September, 2007, JACY House will be offering a parent support group to non-offending parents/guardians whose children have disclosed abuse. The objective of the group is give the parents the tools to help themselves so that they can assist their child(ren) during this time. They will also be able to talk to other parents who are experiencing the same emotions that they are dealing with.

 

 In 2006, JACY House expanded its service area to include five other counties in Indiana: Fayette, Franklin, Henry, Rush, Union.