WYNONA'S HOUSE

WYNONA'S HOUSE FACILITATES THE LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED CHILD ABUSE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM (MDT) FOR ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, IN THE FORM OF A CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER (CAC). AS THE CENTRAL HUB COORDINATING THE COUNTY'S RESPONSE TO AND PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, WYNONA'S HOUSE BRINGS TOGETHER A PUBLIC/PRIVATE COLLABORATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTION, CHILD PROTECTION, MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, AND FAMILY ADVOCATES.IN THE CURRENT REPORTING YEAR, WYNONA'S HOUSE FACILITATED MDT SERVICES AND CASE REVIEW FOR 1,002 CHILD VICTIMS ACROSS 1,013 CASES. WRAP-AROUND SERVICES SUPPORTED 2,301 NON-OFFENDING SIBLINGS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND CAREGIVERS. OVER THE PAST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE FACILITATED MDT SERVICES AND CASE REVIEW FOR 14,371 CHILD VICTIMS ACROSS 14,571 CASES.AT THE CORE OF THE CAC MODEL IS MDT COORDINATION. THROUGH THIS COORDINATED MODEL, PARTNER AGENCIES WORK TOGETHER TO STRENGTHEN INVESTIGATIONS, SUPPORT EFFECTIVE PROSECUTION, ALIGN SERVICES, AND REDUCE TRAUMA FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THE MDT APPROACH IMPROVES SYSTEM EFFICIENCY, ENHANCES OUTCOMES, AND ENSURES THAT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES RECEIVE A COMPREHENSIVE AND CONSISTENT RESPONSE.AT THE HEART OF THE CAC IS THE FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAM (FAP), WHICH PROVIDES WRAP-AROUND, INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. SERVICES INCLUDE CRISIS INTERVENTION, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND CONNECTION TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH CARE, MEDICAL SERVICES, HOUSING, EDUCATION, FOOD, CLOTHING, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST AND CONTINUE FOR AS LONG AS FAMILIES NEED THEM.FAP ALSO ADDRESSES COMPLEX AND OVERLAPPING FORMS OF VICTIMIZATION THROUGH ITS POLYVICTIMIZATION INITIATIVE, SUPPORTING FAMILIES EXPERIENCING CO-OCCURRING FORMS OF VIOLENCE, INCLUDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL VIOLENCE, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.WYNONA'S HOUSE WORKS TO PREVENT HARM THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION EFFORTS THAT STRENGTHEN PROTECTIVE FACTORS AND REDUCE RISK FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH ITS PREVENTION BY DESIGN INITIATIVE. SERVICES INCLUDE WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS, COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS, AND GROWING COALITIONS THAT INCREASE AWARENESS, STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO SUPPORT. THE FAMILY FINANCIAL STRENGTHENING INITIATIVE FURTHER SUPPORTS CAREGIVERS BY HELPING THEM STABILIZE FINANCIALLY AND REDUCE STRESSORS THAT CAN INCREASE RISK FOR CHILDREN.OUR ONSITE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER ENHANCES BOTH FAMILY ADVOCACY AND PREVENTION SERVICES DELIVERY BY PROVIDING NO-COST ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL GOODS AND CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORTS, HELPING TO STABILIZE FAMILIES, REDUCE BARRIERS TO ENGAGEMENT, AND STRENGTHEN OVERALL FAMILY WELL-BEING.WYNONA'S HOUSE SUPPORTS THE ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF MDT PARTNER STAFF, PROVIDING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN COORDINATION AND ENSURE A HIGH-QUALITY, TRAUMA-INFORMED RESPONSE ACROSS DISCIPLINES. WYNONA'S HOUSE ALSO MAINTAINS A ROBUST INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF CHILD ADVOCACY AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROFESSIONALS.WYNONA'S HOUSE ADVANCES A TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICE MODEL THAT ENSURES THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER ENVIRONMENT SUPPORTS THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM PARTNERS. THIS WORK RECOGNIZES THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA AND VICARIOUS TRAUMA AND INCORPORATES INTENTIONAL DESIGN, COORDINATION, AND SUPPORT STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE SERVICE DELIVERY, STAFF WELL-BEING, AND OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESPONSE.