Children’s Advocacy Center says demand rising; seeks on‑site mental health and more medical hours
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Summary
Foothills Children’s Advocacy Center (now rebranded) updated council on Sept. 15 on services for children who have experienced abuse, reporting 303 children served last fiscal year (55 Charlottesville residents) and requesting resources to add on‑site mental health care and more pediatric medical hours.
Sherry McKinney, CEO of Foothills Children’s Advocacy Center, told City Council on Sept. 15 that her organization has moved to a new facility on Pantops, rebranded to emphasize inclusivity, and is seeking funding to add on‑site mental health services and increase pediatric medical coverage for children who are referred by law enforcement and children’s services.
Foothills provides forensic interviews, on‑site medical exams (it contracts with a child abuse pediatrician for part‑time hours), family advocacy and multidisciplinary team case review, McKinney said. “Last fiscal year we served 303 children; 55 of them were Charlottesville residents,” she told council, and added the center’s contract with the medical provider is for limited hours and currently covers roughly 30 percent of children who need a medical exam on site.
Why it matters: Forensic interviews and coordinated care can reduce trauma for children who have experienced abuse; Foothills said gaps in on‑site mental health and limited pediatric hours hamper its ability to provide full, trauma‑informed care. McKinney said the center lacks sustained federal VOCA funding and is working to replace those resources through state funding and philanthropy.
McKinney requested council support for adding on‑site mental health services and expanding medical coverage; she said the center’s contract with UVA provides 26 hours of pediatric medical coverage and that adding a full‑time mental‑health clinician is a top priority. She also said the center’s per‑child average cost last fiscal year was about $3,100.
Councilors asked about staff self‑care. McKinney said the center offers counseling to staff and MDT partners through a local provider and has increased trauma training and internal supports.
Ending: McKinney said the center will continue to pursue public and private funding to expand medical and mental‑health capacity and asked council to consider those needs in upcoming budget and grant discussions.