Liberty House honors Stayton Police for role in child‑advocacy accreditation

Liberty House officials visited the Stayton City Council on May 19 to recognize the Stayton Police Department’s role in Liberty House’s recent accreditation and to outline the center’s work serving children who have experienced abuse and trauma.

For the record, Bruce Anderson, deputy CEO of Liberty House, told the council, “I’m Bruce Anderson. I’m deputy CEO of Liberty House, and joining me is our assistant deputy CEO and MDT coordinator, Cameron Wolford.”

Liberty House is the children’s advocacy center that serves Marion and Polk counties and provides forensic interviews, therapy and prevention education. Anderson told the council the center opened in 1999 and has served more than 15,000 children over 26 years. Cameron Wolford said Liberty House received 53 referrals for clinic services from Stayton in 2024 and credited local law enforcement for helping the center meet accreditation standards.

“We are here to recognize Stayton Police Department for their efforts in getting us all accredited as the MDT and the CAC for Marion and Polk Counties,” Wolford said, thanking “Chief Johns and to her sergeants and to her officers.”

Why it matters: Liberty House’s accreditation through the National Children’s Alliance signifies the center meets national standards for co‑located, multidisciplinary response to child abuse and neglect. Council members and city staff acknowledged the local partnership and allowed time for a photo and brief questions from council members.

City leaders did not take formal action on the presentation; it was given as a recognition and an informational update to the council.