DA’s office and partners announce children’s advocacy center launch
For release on April 15, 2021
CONTACT:
James Gibbons-Shapiro
Assistant District Attorney
(408) 792-2985
DA’s office and partners announce children’s advocacy center launch
Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen is proud to announce today the opening of a new, long-awaited county center that will serve as a resource-rich sanctuary for victims of child abuse and their families.
The Child Advocacy Center, at 455 O’Connor Drive in San Jose, is set up to be a safe, welcoming, and efficient place for children to get counseling, medical care, and work with police and prosecutors.
The District Attorney’s Office has produced a video to introduce the CAC to the community.
Said District Attorney Jeff Rosen: “When children and their families need advice and advocacy, medical help, a kind ear, and protection. They need a team. When they need us the most, we will be here for them at the CAC.”
Two decades in the making, from idea to fruition, the CAC will serve an important role in preventing, identifying, and prosecuting child abuse cases. Our Victim Services Unit has been working hard with a multi-disciplinary team that includes victim advocacy partners, law enforcement, social welfare, mental and medical health services, to provide child victims and their families with coordinated services to meet their individual needs in one location.
The 11,000-square foot CAC – which cost $6 million to renovate and furnish with state of the art equipment - is expected to help more than 300 children and their families in its first year.
DA Rosen gave his heartfelt thanks to all of the people and organizations that helped make the CAC possible. They include: Dr. Jeff Smith, County Executive; Members of the Board of Supervisors, with leadership from Cindy Chavez, Susan Ellenberg; Kasey Halcón, Director of Victim Services DA’s Office; Dr. Marlene Sturm, CAC Medical Director; Mary Ritter, CAC Nurse Examiner; Adriana Caldera, CEO YWCA; Erin O’Brien, CEO Community Solutions; Chief Anthony Mata, SJPD; Dan Little, Director DFCS; County Fleets and Facilities, Toeniskoetter Construction, and County Technology Services and Solutions.
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