Christians In Action Inc

TO PROVIDE SHELTER AND SERVICES TO ABUSED/NEGLECTED CHILDREN AND EDUCATION TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE.

CHRISTIANS IN ACTION, INC. OPERATES AN EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, AGES BIRTH THROUGH SEVENTEEN. LOCATED IN HINDS COUNTY, A COUNTY WITH ONE OF THE HIGHEST INCIDENCES OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN THE STATE, THE SHELTER SERVES CHILDREN FROM ALL MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES WHEN SPACE IS AVAILABLE. THE SHELTER IS LICENSED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES AND CHILDREN ENTER THE SHELTER BY COURT ORDER. IT WAS THE FIRST SHELTER IN THE STATE TO OPEN, IN 1977, AND IS ONE OF SIX SHELTERS STATEWIDE SERVING THIS AGE GROUP AND POPULATION. THE AGENCY SERVES MORE CHILDREN EACH YEAR THAN ANY OTHER SHELTER. ALTHOUGH THE STAY IS INTENDED TO BE LIMITED TO 45 DAYS WHILE THE STATE FINDS A FOSTER HOME OR RELATIVE PLACEMENT, THE STAY CAN BE EXTENDED TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL TIME TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATE DECISION FOR PERMANENCY.IN 2021, THE EMERGENCY SHELTER PROVIDED SERVICES FOR 88 CHILDREN. THE NUMBER OF UNITS OF SERVICE WERE 1,967 (ONE CHILD SPENDING ONE NIGHT=ONE UNIT OF SERVICE). TWENTY-THREE CHILDREN HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSED, TWENTY-ONE HAD BEEN PHYSICALLY ABUSED, AND FIFTY-EIGHT NEGLECTED. FOURTEEN OF THE 88 CHILDREN HAD EXPERIENCED MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF ABUSE. THIRTY-THREE WERE MALES AND FIFTY-FIVE WERE FEMALES. TWENTY-ONE WERE EITHER PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDED FOOD, CLOTHING, TRANSPORTATION, AND SUPERVISION. LOCAL CHILDREN ARE TRANSPORTED TO SCHOOLS WHERE THEY ARE ENROLLED. THE AGENCY PROVIDED VIRTUAL EDUCATION FOR THOSE WHO WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH LAPTOPS AND VIRTUAL LEARNING CENTERS WITH EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FROM SHELTER STAFF AS NEEDED. RECREATIONAL OUTINGS HAVE RESUMED; HOWEVER, ARE STILL LIMITED DUE TO COVID VARIANTS. THIRTY-SEVEN CHILDREN RECEIVED PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS, 78 RECEIVED A COMPLETE MEDICAL, DENTAL AND VISION ASSESSMENT.VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT IS STILL LIMITED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC ALTHOUGH A PSYCHOLOGIST CONTINUES TO DONATE THREE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS EACH MONTH FOR CHILDREN WHOSE MEDICAID IS NOT YET EFFECTIVE. THE AGENCY ALSO HAD AN INTERN FROM MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE THIS YEAR. THESE SERVICES CAN BE USED AS IN-KIND MATCH FOR GRANTS, AS OPPOSED TO PROVIDING A CASH MATCH.THE AGENCY EMPLOYS A FULL-TIME THERAPIST, SOCIAL WORKER, AND A VICTIM SERVICES COORDINATOR TO WORK WITH THE CHILDREN IN ASSURING THAT ALL NEEDED SERVICES ARE PROVIDED WHILE THE CHILD IS IN SHELTER CARE. IF THE CHILD WAS REMOVED FROM THE HOME DUE TO NEGLECT OR PHYSICAL ABUSE AND CONFIDES IN THE THERAPIST THAT THERE WAS ALSO SEXUAL ABUSE INVOLVED, THE THERAPIST MAKES A REPORT TO THE STATE HOTLINE, AND AN INVESTIGATION ENSUES. THIS CAN RESULT IN AN ARREST OF THE PERPETRATOR AND ENSURE THAT HE/SHE NO LONGER HAS ACCESS TO THE CHILD. THE AGENCY THERAPIST IS CERTIFIED AS A HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIM SERVICES PROVIDER, DUE TO THE INCREASED NUMBER OF SEX TRAFFICKED VICTIMS SERVED BY THE AGENCY.DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THE AGENCY HAS NOT YET RESUMED ON-SITE FAMILY VISITATION. THIS CONTACT IS CURRENTLY ACCOMPLISHED BY TELEPHONE CALLS AND FACETIME. CHILD PROTECTION SOCIAL WORKERS ARE ALLOWED TO VISIT AS NEEDED AND ARE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH STAFF REGARDING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN IN CARE.IN JANUARY 2021, THE ORGANIZATION OPENED A NEW PROGRAM, THE CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER. IT IS THE TWELFTH CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER IN THE STATE AND SERVES HINDS COUNTY. THE CENTER PROVIDES FORENSIC INTERVIEWS FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE SUFFERED SEXUAL ABUSE, FELONY CHILD PHYSICAL ABUSE, OR FOR THOSE WHO HAVE WITNESSED A VIOLENT CRIME. THE STAFF PROVIDE FAMILY ADVOCACY, ASSISTANCE WITH FILING VICTIM COMPENSATION FORMS, AND MAY BE CALLED TO TESTIFY IN COURT. PARTNERSHIPS FORMED WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE THERAPY AND FORENSIC MEDICALS FOR THE CHILD. THESE SERVICES HELP CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACHIEVE HOPE AND HEALING WHILE STAFF AND PARTNERS GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE COURT PROCESS AND PROSECUTION OF THE PERPETRATOR.THE ORGANIZATION NOW HAS THREE FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS, TWO FAMILY ADVOCATES, AND A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM FACILITATOR TO PROVIDE THESE SUPPORT SERVICES TO FAMILIES. THE FIRST ON-SITE INTERVIEWS TOOK PLACE IN FEBRUARY OF 2021 AND THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETED 282 FORENSIC INTERVIEWS AND PROVIDED ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT TO THOSE FAMILIES BY DECEMBER 31, 2021. CHILDREN WHO NEED A FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATION ARE REFERRED TO THE SAFE CENTER AT UMMC. COPIES OF THE RECORDED INTERVIEWS AND ALL INFORMATION NEEDED FOR PROSECUTION IS TURNED OVER TO THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES.SIGNED PARTNERSHIPS ARE IN PLACE WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, HINDS COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE SAFE CENTER, YOUTH COURT, CANOPY SOLUTIONS, SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN SERVICES, AND HINDS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. THESE PARTNERSHIPS FORM A COALITION WHO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES ON THE ADVOCACY CENTER'S MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM. THESE TEAM MEMBERS OBSERVE INTERVIEWS LIVE FROM ANOTHER BUILDING AS THEY OCCUR, MEET MONTHLY WITH OUR STAFF FOR CASE REVIEW AND HELP MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING DISPOSITION OF THE CASE.THE CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER IS NEARING COMPLETION OF A BUILDING ACQUIRED THROUGH A LEASE/PURCHASE AGREEMENT AND WILL RELOCATE ITS OPERATION FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES OF THE AGENCY. THE ORGANIZATION HAS ALSO PURCHASED THE BUILDING ADJACENT TO THE LEASE/PURCHASE PROPERTY THAT WILL FURTHER EXPAND THE OPERATION OF THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY PROGRAM. PLANS ARE TO BEGIN FUNDRAISING IN 2022 TO COMPLETE RENOVATIONS ON THIS PROPERTY.THE ORGANIZATION WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK FUNDING IN 2022 TO PROVIDE OPERATING RESOURCES FOR BOTH THE EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAM AND THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER.