AT-RISK CHILDREN WILL BENEFIT FROM SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS GRANT

Grant Designated for the San Bernardino County Children’s Assessment Center

SAN BERNARDINO – Children’s Fund has been awarded a $100,000 grant by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to enable the San Bernardino County Children’s Assessment Center to provide  quality medical services to the County’s most vulnerable children- those who have been physically or sexually abused, or severely neglected.

The Children’s Assessment Center treats children ages 0-18, as well as developmentally delayed young adults, from every area of San Bernardino County who are suspected victims of abuse. Last year, 45% of the children seen at the Assessment Center were under the age of 5, signaling that a significant portion of the population served by this Center are very young and often cannot speak for themselves.  Last year, the Center treated more than 1,600 children from our own communities.

“Children’s Fund is grateful that the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has prioritized improving health outcomes, especially for our region’s vulnerable abused and neglected children.  ” states Erin Phillips, President and CEO of Children’s Fund.  “As the fundraising arm for the Children’s Assessment Center, together we work to protect children from living a life in harm and without basic necessities.  San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ grant at this critical time, when the need is so great, will help provide life-saving services.”

This investment by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, in partnership with Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and the County of San Bernardino, will support the medical services performed at the Children’s Assessment Center.  These exams assess injuries as well as capture evidence that assist in the evaluation of the child abuse allegation.  Additionally, at the child-friendly Center, youth are able to tell their story once, to all appropriate personnel, significantly reducing their trauma during the investigative process. Additional partners include Children & Family Services, Sheriff’s Department & Police Association, District Attorney’s Office, Department of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Health, Children’s Network and Family Law Court Services.  This investment, along with the support of all of these agencies working together, will make a strong and lasting impact on the Center’s ability to serve our community.

Created in 1986, Children’s Fund is a non-profit whose mission is to prevent child abuse in our community; to ensure that at-risk children who are abused, neglected, impoverished, or abandoned receive adequate food, shelter, clothing, medical care and education; and to provide equal opportunity for social development for these children.  Since its inception, Children’s Fund has served more than 1.3 million children. For more information on Children’s Fund or to learn how you can give a child hope for brighter tomorrows by making a donation, go to www.childrensfundonline.org or call 909.379.0000.  Follow us on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/W4Wymf

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