Arvest Bank leadership, on behalf of the Arvest Foundation, was happy to donate $5,000 to support the mission of Children’s Center of Southwest Missouri. As a child advocacy center, Children’s Center provides many benefits, both to victims and families as well as the community. The Center works with a multidisciplinary team to offer advocacy services, forensic interviews, forensic medical exams, trauma informed counseling and community outreach. The medical staff is specially trained and experienced in assessing child abuse. The Children’s Center is the only organization in its twelve-county service area equipped with the staff and equipment to offer specialized child abuse medical exams. Children’s Center is a not-for-profit organization providing a safe, child-friendly setting for the investigation of child abuse in Southwest Missouri.
The donation was held at the Children’s Center inside their facility located at 1029 E 7th Street in Joplin, Missouri. Arvest Bank associates were on hand to present the check on behalf of the Arvest Foundation. A tour of the advocacy center was provided for all who attended.
The Children’s Center opened in 1997 with the purpose of helping sexually abused and severely physically abused children and their families. “Medical evaluation is an essential part of the multidisciplinary team approach to child abuse investigations”, said Vickie Dudley, Executive Director of Children’s Center. “The top priority of the medical program at the Children’s Center, is to ensure the health and safety of every child who visits. One of our gravest concerns during this crisis is the risk of losing specialized staff members because of lack of revenue. The $5,000 in funding from Arvest Foundation will help to offset the revenue loss for these critical positions”.
“There is no greater injustice than knowing children are abused every day”, said Chad Evans, Arvest Bank President. “The team at Children’s Center, and the advocacy services they provide to innocent and abused children is commendable and absolutely vital to a safe and bright future for these children. We are proud to partner with them to help support and retain specially trained medical and advocacy staff for abused and neglected children throughout Southwest Missouri.”
Your support makes a difference to the children and families the Children’s Center of Southwest Missouri serves. If you would like to make a difference in the lives of children by supporting the mission of Children’s Center, we encourage you to make a donation by visiting their website today, at www.childrens-center.org.
