Child Advocacy Center relocates in Utica: Where to find it
The Oneida County Childhood Advocacy Center is moving locations within the city of Utica.
The CAC was located at 930 York St. but will soon be on the move to 1415 Genesee St., following an approval vote by the Oneida County Board of Legislators at its last meeting on Wednesday, April 12.
“This facility is owned by New York State and is part of the former Utica Psychiatric Center Campus,” Oneida County Director of Public Works Mark E. Laramie wrote in a letter included in the Board’s April 12 packet, detailing the move’s necessity.
“New York State decided to cease operation and maintenance of the facility housing CAC, therefore a new location for CAC operations must be secured.”
About CAC
From its modest beginnings in 1989 as a Sex Abuse Task Force under then-Oneida County District Attorney Barry Donalty, the Child Advocacy Center snowballed under various leaders into a powerful advocate on behalf of victimized children, according to Observer-Dispatch records.
It overcame deficiencies in the investigation and prosecution of child sex abuse by joining law enforcement resources with Oneida County’s Child Protective Services, therapists, prosecutors and victim supporters,
It was restructured and renamed in 1997 under the leadership of Kevin Revere, hired by then-District Attorney Michael Arcuri. After various relocations, the center settled into its York Street address in West Utica, where it became the state’s first Child Advocacy Center to offer medical services, physically examine victims and gather forensic evidence.
New CAC location
According to Laramie’s correspondence, proposals were solicited for 5,000-square-feet of professional office space were sent out near the end of June 2021.
One proposal, from 1415 Genesee Street Building LLC, for approximately 5,040-square-feet of office space was received on July 28, 2022.
The space meets the minimum requirements for CAC and the Board voted in favor of a lease agreement at its April meeting.
The lease rate, according to Laramie’s letter, is $64,915.20 annually, for a five-year term. The cost breakdown is from various funding sources, including county (63.54%), state (17.22%) and federal (19.24%).
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Child Advocacy Center relocating to new Utica spot: Here's why
