New Legislation Helps Maryland Child Advocacy Center Continue Their Work Preventing Children From Abuse

National Children's Alliance
Baltimore, MD
May 7, 2010
12:00pm

On Tuesday, May 4, 2010, Governor Martin O’Malley signed HB 1043 / SB796 in support of statewide Child Advocacy Centers (CAC) and their work. This legislation will provide law enforcement, child protection services, social workers, and all who work to protect Maryland's children with the resources to more efficiently serve victims of child sexual abuse and those at risk. The legislation will also allocate unspent victim services funding to Child Advocacy Centers to help sexually abused children.

“When the Governor signed the CAC Bill and handed the pen to a survivor of abuse, who testified on behalf of the bill, it represented a substantial commitment by the state of Maryland to make sure children are heard and kept safe,” said Adam Rosenberg, Executive Director of Baltimore Child Abuse Center who was present to witness the signing.

Child Advocacy Centers are currently discretionary. Placing the CACs in statute prevents their elimination and helps assure that investigations in child sexual abuse cases are handled by experts. This bill will also see that CACs are included in the Department of Human Resources’ annual report to the General Assembly.

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The Baltimore Child Abuse Center (BCAC) is a non profit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to provide all reported victims of child sexual abuse in Baltimore City, and their non-offending caretakers, with comprehensive interviews, medical treatment, referral, and/or crisis counseling services. BCAC is the oldest children’s advocacy center in Maryland, and serves over 800 children every year.