BROOKVILLE – Western PA CARES for Kids Child Advocacy Center is located in Brookville and services Jefferson, Clarion, Clearfield and Forest counties.
The mission of Western PA CARES for Kids Child Advocacy Center is to reduce the trauma and enhance the physical, emotional and psychological safety and well-being of children and their non-offending family members through a timely, coordinated and specialized response to criminal and civil investigations involving children and other vulnerable members of the community.
CARES has provided these services to 545 children and one adult with Down’s syndrome since its opening in 2008. CARES employs a trained child forensic interviewer who uses national accredited techniques to help children feel at ease and provide accurate, detailed information to an investigation.
CARES also provides ongoing support services to abused children and families through its family advocacy program and complete onsite head to toe medical evaluations by specially trained registered nurses.
CARES is a 501(C)3 organization, which operates at no cost to the child/family and receives no federal government or county funding. It has continued to exist through fundraising efforts and donations from the community.
CARES’ biggest fundraiser is its “duathlon,” 5K race and community walk that is to be held on July 18 at Cook Forest State Park. Pre-registration and waiver forms are available online at www.carescac.org and will be available at the Brookville YMCA at the end of April.
The pre-registration deadline is June 26. An awards ceremony and free lunch will follow the race. All proceeds help CARES provide a child friendly coordinated response to child abuse.
For more information, visit the CARES Web site at www.carescac.org or call 814-849-1904. Child care will be provided for children up to age of 10 years.