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A safe and comfortable place where children are interviewed about possible abuse and neglect.

 

  

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A safe and comfortable place where children are interviewed about possible abuse and neglect.

Stepping Stones was created to minimize the trauma child victims can experience after the disclosure of abuse.  Stepping Stones coordinates services for the child victim and their families by working with a multidisciplinary team comprised of respresentatives from child protection, law enforcement, prosecution, medical and mental health, and victim services. This coordination improves the investigation and prosecution of abuse cases while ensuring the victims receive effective, sensitive and immediate support in a setting that puts their needs first. This collaboration dramatically reduces the number of times a child is questioned about abuse.

Stepping Stones primarily services children under the age of 17 living in La Crosse, Jackson, Monroe, Trempealeau and Vernon Counties in Wisconsin and Houston County in Minnesota.  Clientele include:

  • child victims of sexual, physical, severe neglect or emotional abuse
  • child witnesses to violent crimes
  • non-offending caregivers
  • community professionals in the fields of law enforcement, prosecution, medicine, child protective services, mental health, education and advocacy

Chlildren's Advocacy Center Services

Key features of Stepping Stones include:

  • A child-friendly, community-based facility where the videotaped forensic interview and initial case planning can occur
  • a coordinated response to abuse reports designed to increase the effectiveness of the investigation while reducing stress and risk of secondary trauma to the child victim
  • Videotaped interviews conducted by trained forensic interviewers in a safe, confidential setting
  • the avoidance of multiple interviews, reducing the trauma of disclosure and preserving the victim's statements for court purposes
  • Family advocacy programming that provides crisis intervention and emotional support for child victims and their non-offending family members and referral to community services based on their identified needs
  • Regular case review activity to ensure sharing of new information, continuing case planning and ensuring that the child and family's emerging needs are addressed
  • Training and education for professionals responsible for meeting the needs of maltreated children

Please Note: You must be referred by a social worker or police officer to use Stepping Stones' services.

Community Benefits

By facilitating a coordinated response, Stepping Stones provides the following benefits:

  • Reduced cost of investigations (child advocacy center investigations are 36% less expensive than traditional investigations)
  • Trauma experiened by children and their families from child abuse investigations is reduced
  • Non-offending caregivers are empowered to protect and support their children
  • Children and families receive prompt, on-going services tailored to fit their needs
  • Allegations of abuse and neglect are more thoroughly investigated
  • More offenders are held accountable through increased prosecution and conviction rates
  • The community is better educated about the reality of abuse

Stepping Stones was created to minimize the trauma child victims can experience after the disclosure of abuse.  Stepping Stones coordinates services for the child victim and their families by working with a multidisciplinary team comprised of respresentatives from child protection, law enforcement, prosecution, medical and mental health, and victim services. This coordination improves the investigation and prosecution of abuse cases while ensuring the victims receive effective, sensitive and immediate support in a setting that puts their needs first. This collaboration dramatically reduces the number of times a child is questioned about abuse.

Stepping Stones primarily services children under the age of 17 living in La Crosse, Jackson, Monroe, Trempealeau and Vernon Counties in Wisconsin and Houston County in Minnesota.  Clientele include:

  • child victims of sexual, physical, severe neglect or emotional abuse
  • child witnesses to violent crimes
  • non-offending caregivers
  • community professionals in the fields of law enforcement, prosecution, medicine, child protective services, mental health, education and advocacy

Chlildren's Advocacy Center Services

Key features of Stepping Stones include:

  • A child-friendly, community-based facility where the videotaped forensic interview and initial case planning can occur
  • a coordinated response to abuse reports designed to increase the effectiveness of the investigation while reducing stress and risk of secondary trauma to the child victim
  • Videotaped interviews conducted by trained forensic interviewers in a safe, confidential setting
  • the avoidance of multiple interviews, reducing the trauma of disclosure and preserving the victim's statements for court purposes
  • Family advocacy programming that provides crisis intervention and emotional support for child victims and their non-offending family members and referral to community services based on their identified needs
  • Regular case review activity to ensure sharing of new information, continuing case planning and ensuring that the child and family's emerging needs are addressed
  • Training and education for professionals responsible for meeting the needs of maltreated children

Please Note: You must be referred by a social worker or police officer to use Stepping Stones' services.

Community Benefits

By facilitating a coordinated response, Stepping Stones provides the following benefits:

  • Reduced cost of investigations (child advocacy center investigations are 36% less expensive than traditional investigations)
  • Trauma experiened by children and their families from child abuse investigations is reduced
  • Non-offending caregivers are empowered to protect and support their children
  • Children and families receive prompt, on-going services tailored to fit their needs
  • Allegations of abuse and neglect are more thoroughly investigated
  • More offenders are held accountable through increased prosecution and conviction rates
  • The community is better educated about the reality of abuse
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"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children."

~ Nelson Mandela

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"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children."

~ Nelson Mandela

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For more information about Stepping Stones call (608) 791-3882 or email jmeyer@fccnetwork.org

For more information about Stepping Stones call (608) 791-3882 or email jmeyer@fccnetwork.org
Serving Communities in western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota
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