The Center is not a residential facility: families come to the Center during crisis and leave to the safety of appropriate homes arranged by the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS).

Recent studies indicate that one in five adults has experienced unwanted sexual contact prior to the age of eighteen.

The single best predictor of how well a child will succeed following disclosure of abuse is the support of the non-offending parent.

Cases involving multiple agencies are routinely conferenced to ensure good and timely case management for the child and family through to the conclusion of the criminal and/or civil court process.

Ginnie’s House Children’s Advocacy Center (“Center”) was opened in Spring 1998 and is situated in the center of the Town of Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey. The Center is in the historic Park Building located near the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, Sussex District Office of the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services, Sussex County Judicial Complex, Sussex County Sheriff’s Office and other human services agencies. The building was made available and is maintained by the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Center is available to children in Sussex County who may have been sexually or physically abused, assaulted, or witnessed a violent crime, including domestic violence.

 The Center is a full member of the National Children’s Alliance, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Currently, there are 250 full member and 97 associate member Children’s Advocacy Centers throughout the United States. The centers were established to avoid the re-victimization of children during the disclosure and investigation process.

 The Ginnie’s House Children’s Advocacy Center is a New Jersey non-profit corporation. The Board of Directors is comprised of representatives from participating agencies, educators, business and community leaders. The Board oversees the operation of the Center and is dedicated to increasing community awareness of child abuse and its prevention.

 Upon disclosure of abuse or assault by a child (generally to a friend or school faculty member), the Division of Youth and Family Services and the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Unit initiate a cooperative investigation. They arrange for the child to come to the Center where a team of trained professionals will meet the non-offending family member(s) and then speak with the child. Prior to the establishment of the Center, a child and family might have to repeat the details of the abuse or assault several times, with each agency conducting an independent interview. The dynamics of child sexual and physical abuse are quite unique; therefore, the procedures at the Center are designed to support these fragile victims. At the Center the agencies share the investigation and collaborate on the intervention and safety plans.

 Victims usually know their abuser: few children are assaulted by strangers.  Often abusers are the people the children love, should be able to trust, and look to for their basic needs. It is not uncommon for children to disclose their abuse after years of silence, for the abuser often uses bribes, threats and/or coercion to ensure the child keeps the abuse secret.  In many cases, the children are led to believe they are to blame for the abuse and that they will be punished if they tell, so the act of disclosure may create conflict for them.

 The process of disclosure involves revealing intimate and secret details to strangers, therefore, it is essential that the trained professionals from the Prosecutor’s Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Unit and the Division of Youth and Family Services work together to create an atmosphere of safety. The special child-friendly environment at the Center helps the child to feel safe enough to recount details in one joint interview. The professionals then act upon the information to protect the child and, if appropriate, to hold the alleged abuser accountable. Sometimes the concern which gave cause for the child interview is unfounded and no further services are needed.

 The non-offending parent(s) may not believe the child, may become lost in self-blame for failing to protect their child, or may worry about providing for the family (when the alleged abuser is the family breadwinner). Often the non-offending parents are in crisis when they are most needed to support their children. The Prosecutor’s Victim Witness Unit or crisis specialists can be available at the Center to help the family.

Family Advocate Program information

 If the abuse is recent, certain forensic medical information is needed for evidence. If the most recent occurrence was prior to 72 hours of reporting, a medical examination may also be recommended since abused children have very altered self images of their bodies.

 The Center has a fully equipped medical examination room and has contracted with a local physician who is experienced in child abuse diagnosis and reporting. The physician is assisted by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners from the Newton Memorial Hospital SANE Program serving Sussex County.Children also have access to this service at the Children’s House Regional Diagnostic Center at Hackensack University Medical Center.

 The Pediatric Nurse Consultant of the Division of Youth and Family Services also has use of the medical examination facility at the Center when performing routine pre-placement examinations of children.

 Following the investigative interview, referrals are made for the child to receive specialized therapy to begin coping with the guilt, shame, betrayal and anger that often accompany such abuse. Families may be referred to Saint Clares’ Center for the Protection of Children, the Center for Evaluation and Counseling, or Family Intervention Services, all participating agencies at the Center. The family may also elect to use a therapeutic professional of their own choosing.

 In 2004, over 1700 therapeutic sessions were scheduled at the Center for children or non-offending parents with clinicians from the Center for the Protection of Children Approximately, two thirds of the children seen were female and one-third were male. It is essential to note that, while this therapy is extremely important, the Center’s priority is always the needs of the child during an investigation.

The Center is a neutral base for professionals from the participating agencies to meet regularly and determine the best plan for the safety and well being of the child, while maintaining the integrity of the criminal and/or family court cases. This team of area professionals, the Multidisciplinary Team, provides confidential case coordination to ensure consistency for the victim and non-offending family.

National studies have shown that children who have been repeatedly exposed to personal safety education at school or in their community, disclose abuse sooner and impose significantly less self-blame for the abuse. The symptoms often associated with child abuse have been shown to be reduced through the results of personal safety education and immediate professional therapeutic intervention following disclosure