Organization Helping Abused Children Receives $100,000 Grant

Children’s Fund recently received a $100,000 grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (SMBMI) to help the San Bernardino County Children’s Assessment Center provide quality medical services to the County’s children who have been physically or sexually abused or severely neglected. The Children’s Assessment Center treats children up to the age of 18, as well as developmentally-delayed young adults, from every area of San Bernardino County who are suspected victims of abuse. Last year, 45% of the children seen at the Assessment Center were under the age of five. Last year, the Center treated over 1,600 children from throughout the communities of Colton, Grand Terrace, Loma Linda, Redlands, San Bernardino, and other neighboring cities. “Children’s Fund is grateful that the SMBMI has helped improve health outcomes, especially for our region’s vulnerable abused and neglected children,” shares Erin Phillips, President and CEO of Children’s Fund. “The SMBMI's grant at this critical time, when the need is so great, will help provide life-saving services.” This investment by the SMBMI, in partnership with Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and the County of San Bernardino, will support the medical services performed at the Children’s Assessment Center. These exams assess injuries and capture evidence that help in the evaluation of the child abuse allegation. Additional partners include Children & Family Services, Sheriff’s Department & Police Association, San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, Department of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Health, Children’s Network and Family Law Court Services. This investment, along with the support of all of these agencies working together, will enable the Center to further serve the community. [END] Children’s Fund has been awarded a $100,000 grant by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to enable the San Bernardino County Children’s Assessment Center to provide quality medical services to the County’s most vulnerable children- those who have been physically or sexually abused, or severely neglected. The Children’s Assessment Center treats children ages 0-18, as well as developmentally delayed young adults, from every area of San Bernardino County who are suspected victims of abuse. Last year, 45% of the children seen at the Assessment Center were under the age of 5, signaling that a significant portion of the population served by this Center are very young and often cannot speak for themselves. Last year, the Center treated more than 1,600 children from our own communities. “Children’s Fund is grateful that the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has prioritized improving health outcomes, especially for our region’s vulnerable abused and neglected children. ” states Erin Phillips, President and CEO of Children’s Fund. “As the fundraising arm for the Children’s Assessment Center, together we work to protect children from living a life in harm and without basic necessities. San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ grant at this critical time, when the need is so great, will help provide life-saving services.” This investment by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, in partnership with Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and the County of San Bernardino, will support the medical services performed at the Children’s Assessment Center. These exams assess injuries as well as capture evidence that assist in the evaluation of the child abuse allegation. Additionally, at the child-friendly Center,youth are able to tell their story once, to all appropriate personnel, significantly reducing their trauma during the investigative process. Additional partners include Children & Family Services, Sheriff’s Department & Police Association, District Attorney’s Office, Department of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Health, Children’s Network and Family Law Court Services. This investment, along with the support of all of these agencies working together, will make a strong and lasting impact on the Center’s ability to serve our community. Created in 1986, Children’s Fund is a non-profit whose mission is to prevent child abuse in our community; to ensure that at-risk children who are abused, neglected, impoverished, or abandoned receive adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical care and education; and to provide equal opportunity for social development for these children. Since its inception, Children’s Fund has served more than 1.3 million children. For more information on Children’s Fund or to learn how you can give a child hope for brighter tomorrows by making a donation, go to www.childrensfundonline.org or call 909.379.0000. Follow us on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/W4Wymf