Children's Advocacy Center
of the Bluegrass, Inc.

The Children's Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass, Inc. (www.KYKIDS.org) is a child-friendly facility designed to lessen the trauma experienced by a child victim of sexual abuse as their case moves through the criminal justice system. 

The Center provided 3,277 services to 1,335 children and their families from October, 1997 through September, 1988.  These services included personal advocacy, support groups, individual therapy, medical examinations, forensic interviews, court education program, client transportation, and referral to other community agencies.

To improve the community's response to child sexual abuse by providing a safe, non-threatening location for children and their parents during the intervention process.

After a disclosure of sexual abuse by a child, the family is presented with many new and different issues that are stressful.  The advocate's job is to aid the family during this stressful time.  Such tasks may be, but are not limited to:  answering questions, intervening when the family feels they are getting the 'run-around'; educating the family on how the system works; and providing crisis counseling.  Advocates also try to affect legislation and social norms that may affect the health and well-being of children and families through concerted campaigns at the local, state and national levels.

This support group educates its participants about services available in their community.  The group also provides a support system that aids the non-offending parent in coping with his or her child's sexual abuse.  Topics addressed in this group include:  Defining different types of abuse, the grief process, stress-management, law enforcement procedures, the legal system, managing their child's behavior, and developing strategies for protecting their children in the future.

This group meets weekly to address the issues that teenage girls, who were victims of sexual abuse, have to deal with.  These issues range from increasing self-esteem to discussing date rape situations.

On-site therapist provides assessments, crisis counseling and mental health treatment to child victims of sexual abuse.

Initial interviews and all subsequent interviews by the police detectives and social workers are conducted at the Center.

Colposcopic medical examinations are available on-site to alleged child victims of sexual abuse under official investigation.  Physicians from the University of Kentucky and the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department conduct such exams.

This program helps educate victims and their families about the courtroom personnel and procedures through role-play in an actual courtroom.  Kids-In-Court stresses to the child that their role in court is to simply tell the truth.

The Center also provides transportation and referrals to other agencies as needed.

Children's Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass, Inc.
183 Walton Avenue
Lexington, KY  40508
(606) 225-5437