April has been proclaimed Child Abuse Prevention Month by both the Ford County Commission and by the Dodge City Commission. Child abuse affects everyone, and learning more about what you can do will help keep kids in your life safe.
To learn more about services to victims and their families, the Meadowlark House is hosting an open house on Wednesday, April 18 from 10-4. Our new address is 1154 Kliesen St., Suite 3 in Dodge City. We are in the Weber building and share a parking lot with the bowling alley.
To provide the best services for kids and families, the Meadowlark House moved to a much larger location last fall. CAC Coordinator, Stephanie Fuhrmann states, “The new larger space gives us ample room to provide for the best care for children and families as they begin the process of healing from abuse.”
Many community partners assisted with the move. Fuhrmann says, “We are truly grateful for the support getting moved into our new space. The Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas provided a grant for furniture and décor and many others came to paint, helped with moving or donated furniture.”
Each year, the Meadowlark House provides approximately 80 children with high quality interviews and the children and their caregivers with advocacy and referral services.
The interviews are done through referrals through the Dodge City Police Department, Ford County Sheriff’s Office, other law enforcement, and the Kansas Department for Children and Families.
At the time of the interview, each child is given an advocate who follows the child and their caregiver for as long as they need support.
The Meadowlark House also brings together a multidisciplinary team to provide for the full support of the case as well as the family involved. The team includes members from Dodge City Police Department, Ford County Sheriff’s Office, Ford County Attorney’s Office, USD 443 counselors as well as various mental health and medical providers. The team meets monthly to discuss cases and make sure that families are getting the full range of services necessary for their healing.
For more information about the Meadowlark House or their open house, check out their website www.meadowlarkhouse.org or call 620-789-0396.
