To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Human Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Donna Broadbent, 707-565-4349; Regina de Melo, 707-565-4346
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Recommended Action:
Title
Adopt a Gold Resolution acknowledging the 30th anniversary of the Redwood Children’s Center
End
Executive Summary:
For 30 years, the Redwood Children’s Center has been operated by the Human Services Department and has provided essential supportive services to children, teens, and adults with developmental disabilities that are victims of sexual abuse, exploitation, physical abuse or witness to violent crimes. As the only accredited Child Advocacy Center in Sonoma County, the Redwood Children’s Center is pivotal in providing a space for individuals to tell their stories of harm and to receive support and assistance from highly trained professionals in a safe, trauma-informed and inclusive setting.
Discussion:
The Redwood Children’s Center (RCC) was established in 1994 and is available to any child, teen, or adult with developmental disabilities that is the victim of sexual abuse, exploitation, physical abuse or witness to violent crimes. RCC is operated by the Human Services Department (HSD) Division of Family, Youth and Children’s Services (FYC) and is the only accredited Child Advocacy Center in Sonoma County. RCC is a coordination hub for investigation and intervention services for victims of sexual and physical abuse or assault. In addition to providing forensic interviews, RCC staff coordinate related services for victims to address the trauma of their experiences. These services include forensic sexual assault exams, victim advocacy, evidence-based therapy and case management services for victims and their families.
RCC receives funding from the State of California’s Department of Social Services, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and private donations. Since its inception thirty years ago, RCC staff have worked alongside law enforcement, the Department of Health Services (DHS) and child welfare social workers to provide over 7,500 forensic investigative interviews and approximately 1,500 forensic sexual assault medical exams to children, teens, and adults with developmental disabilities. On average, RCC staff conduct 275 forensic interviews per year in a safe, child-focused environment. RCC also leads the County’s Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) program which provides collaborative prevention, intervention activities and services for youth who are at risk or are victims of sexual exploitation.
RCC is co-located in the Family Justice Center (FJC) so that victims can easily access services with other co-located service providers including DHS, the District Attorney’s office, Legal Aid of Sonoma County, SonomaWORKS, Job Link, the Intertribal Council of California, Council on Aging, Young Women’s Christian Association, Verity, Catholic Charities and various other service providers. RCC staff partner with service providers co-located in the FJC and other partners to engage in a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach to interviews and service delivery. Access to services is streamlined because of the developed agency partnerships that are critical to the MDT approach. The MDT includes DHS, medical professionals, law enforcement, mental health practitioners, the District Attorney’s office, social workers, victim advocates, and other professionals. A victim tells their story once to a trained forensic interviewer who knows how to ask questions in a way that does not re-traumatize the victim while other partners are able to watch or review the interview rather than interviewing the victim again. After the interview, the MDT works with the victim and family to develop and implement a plan to best support the child and the family.
Prior Board Actions:
None
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
N/A
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Gold Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None