'More creative ways to get kids’ needs met': Children's Advocacy Center unveils new space

Audrey Cooney, The Herald News
·2 min read

FALL RIVER — The Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol County is expanding its service for children who have survived abuse and other crimes, thanks to a major expansion and renovation project to their building.

“This really allows us to bring things to the next level,” said Lara Stone, one of the organization’s co-executive directors.

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol County is a private nonprofit that provides services for children who have been victims of a crime, especially sexual abuse. These include providing experts to conduct forensic interviews with children that can be shared with law enforcement, mental health services and medical exams for children who have suffered abuse and training for people like police officers and healthcare workers to recognize and prevent things like abuse and sex trafficking.

Leaders of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol County, local officials and donors cut a ribbon to celebrate the opening of the organization's newly renovated building in Fall River on Sept. 16, 2022.
Leaders of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol County, local officials and donors cut a ribbon to celebrate the opening of the organization's newly renovated building in Fall River on Sept. 16, 2022.

The organization was founded 15 years ago and began renting a space on Arch Street in Fall River in 2011. Last year, they purchased the building and broke ground on a major renovation and expansion project.

The organization receives state funding and works closely with the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, but the $3 million renovation and expansion project was entirely privately funded.

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The expansion means they now have three designated rooms for forensic interviews, instead of two, a space for art therapy and several “SMART” rooms designed to help children dealing with sensory issues and trauma. There’s even a designated “office” for Chief, the DA's new service dog who helps children get through forensic interviews.

Lara Stone, left, and Cathy Rutkowski, both co-executive directors of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol County, lead a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate their newly renovated building on Sept. 16, 2022.
Lara Stone, left, and Cathy Rutkowski, both co-executive directors of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol County, lead a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate their newly renovated building on Sept. 16, 2022.

Katie Wordell, a mental health clinician with CAC, said the new space means they can offer more types of therapy to help children process traumatic experiences. The pandemic brought an increased need for mental health services, she said.

“I think we’re able to meet more diverse demands from kids,” she said. “There’s a lot more creative ways to get kids’ needs met.”

During the ribbon cutting ceremony, public officials including Mayor Paul Coogan, DA Thomas Quinn and Sen. Michael Rodriguez praised the organization for their work.

“I can’t tell you enough how much this does for the children here,” said Coogan.

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Audrey Cooney can be reached at acooney@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Children's Advocacy Center unveils bigger, renovated building