Construction to begin on new Children’s Advocacy Center building

JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore. — The Josephine County Children’s Advocacy Center will soon have a new home where staff can provide care and services to abused children all at one location.
A groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Nov. 3 at the future site of the building, 202 NW A St. in Grants Pass. The public is invited to witness the groundbreaking. A reception will follow at the Anne Basker Auditorium.
Those scheduled to appear at the event include Darin Fowler, vice chair of the Board of Josephine County Commissioners; Jim Goodwin, Josephine County Juvenile Justice director; and Susan Riell, board president of the Friends of Josephine County Children’s Advocacy Center. Terry Soeteber, former Josephine County Juvenile Justice director and founder of the Josephine County CAC, will also be in attendance.
Construction will begin shortly on the 4,300 square foot center with eight offices and rooms specially designed and outfitted for therapy, forensic interviews, medical exams and training. The land is owned by Josephine County, while the building itself will be owned by the Friends of Josephine County Children’s Advocacy Center, a 501c3 non-profit established this year to support the CAC in providing crucial services to abused children in Josephine County.
The Josephine County CAC sees more than 250 children each year. Services are provided at various locations due to space limitations.
“Our focus is reducing trauma,” said Tina Stafford, CAC coordinator. “Right now we do not have the space to provide all services under one roof, which isn’t ideal for the children or our staff. At our new headquarters, we will be able to minimize the trauma of the healing process, as well as provide new services like on-site therapy.”
Established in 1989, the Josephine County CAC offers high-quality care so abused children can thrive. At the CAC, a coordinated team of experts in medicine, law enforcement, victim advocacy, mental health and other disciplines assists in the prosecution of abusers and helps children and families heal in a comprehensive, seamless way so no future is out of reach.