CENTER FOR HOPE INC

CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICES CFH ENSURES THAT ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, TRAUMA, AND SIMILAR OFFENSES AGAINST CHILDREN ARE INVESTIGATED AND RESPONDED TO WITHOUT FORCING CHILDREN TO BE RE-VICTIMIZED OR RELIVE THEIR EXPERIENCES FOR EACH INVESTIGATOR WHO NEEDS INFORMATION. EACH CHILD TALKS ONE-ON-ONE WITH ONE OF CFH'S FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS, SOCIAL WORKERS TRAINED IN NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR FORENSIC ASSESSMENT. THIS GIVES CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WHAT HAPPENED IN THEIR OWN WORDS. THIS CRISIS RESPONSE HAS BEEN THE FOUNDATION OF CFH'S OPERATIONS FOR 30 YEARS. CFH IS AVAILABLE WITHIN TWO HOURS OF AN ALLEGATION AND INCLUDES A 24/7/365 ON-CALL SERVICE AND WALK-IN PROGRAM, SERVING FAMILIES AROUND THE CLOCK WITHOUT WAITING TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THIS 24-HOUR PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY AND THE ONLY ONE IN MARYLAND. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025 (JULY 1, 2024 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2025), FORENSIC INTERVIEWS AND RISK ASSESSMENTS WERE PROVIDED FOR 519 CHILDREN. MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS CFH'S MEDICAL FACILITY IS LOCATED IN THE SAME BUILDING AS CFH'S INTERVIEW FACILITIES; THEREFORE, CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE AN EXAMINATION ON-SITE THE SAME DAY AS THEIR INTERVIEW TO DETERMINE IF ANY PHYSICAL SIGNS OF TRAUMA ARE PRESENT. CFH PROVIDES THIS SERVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES SET FORTH BY MARYLAND CHILD ABUSE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, AS WELL AS THE ACCREDITATION STANDARDS OF THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE, A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT CREATES BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS AND PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES TO THE NATION'S MORE THAN 900 CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, CFH'S MEDICAL TEAM CONDUCTED 598 MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR CHILDREN AT CFH'S ON-SITE MEDICAL CLINIC. IN ADDITION TO CONDUCTING 182 FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMS IN CASES OF SUSPECTED CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, CFH ALSO PROVIDED 416 INITIAL MEDICAL SCREENINGS FOR CHILDREN ENTERING STATE SPONSORED FOSTER CARE. PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE ON-SITE FURTHERS CFH'S GOAL OF CREATING A CHILD-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT AND STREAMLINED CARE BY ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR CLIENTS TO MAKE A SEPARATE APPOINTMENT AT A HOSPITAL OR PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE. VICTIM SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY SERVICES CFH'S FAMILY ADVOCACY TEAM PROVIDES ONGOING FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FAMILIES, INCLUDING HOME, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY VISITS, COURT SUPPORT, AND ASSISTANCE IN ACCESSING FOOD, HOUSING, EDUCATIONAL, LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, AND REFERRALS FOR ONGOING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE FAMILY ADVOCATES CONDUCTED 4,514 SESSIONS FOR 987 CLIENTS. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THERAPISTS AT CFH'S MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC SAW 135 CLIENTS IN 1,486 SESSIONS. TRAINING, PREVENTION & OUTREACH CFH TRAINED PROFESSIONALS AND PARENTS/CAREGIVERS FROM MARYLAND, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND AROUND THE WORLD. OVER 100 TRAININGS WERE HELD WITH OVER 10,000 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING TRAINING ON OUR ONLINE TRAINING PLATFORM OR IN FACILITATOR LED TRAININGS (IN PERSON OR VIRTUAL). THE TEAM CONTRACTED WITH 3 AGENCIES TO DEVELOP CHILD PROTECTION POLICIES. FORENSIC INTERVIEW EDUCATION AND TRAINING THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDES EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES STAFF, LAW ENFORCEMENT, LEGAL, MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM PARTNERS AND OTHER VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS ON THE FIT FORENSIC INTERVIEWING MODEL, TELE-FORENSIC INTERVIEWING AND OTHER TOPICS RELATED TO SERVING VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, FORENSIC INTERVIEW EDUCATORS CONDUCTED 30 TRAINING SESSIONS FOR 810 PARTICIPANTS.