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Martin House Children's Advocacy Center urges county support for new Longview facility to expand services
Summary
The Martin House Children's Advocacy Center told Harrison County commissioners it served 305 children from the county last year and is seeking support for a new Longview facility to expand forensic interviews, counseling and an on-site medical exam suite.
Roxanne Stevenson, speaking on behalf of the Martin House Children's Advocacy Center, told the Harrison County Commissioners Court that the center provided nearly 1,000 services last fiscal year and that 305 of those served were from Harrison County.
Stevenson outlined two core goals: reduce trauma to child victims through coordinated forensic interviews, advocacy and therapy, and to facilitate a multidisciplinary team response among law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution and mental-health professionals. "We provide forensic interviews so children are interviewed one time by one specially trained interviewer, rather than being bounced around to different agencies," Stevenson said.
She described the center's current space—two converted duplexes totaling about 4,000 square feet in Longview—and a staff of 13 (plus a facility dog). Stevenson said 581 of the 974 children seen by the center received forensic interviews and 144 children received trauma-focused counseling last year, with 412 counseling sessions provided to children from Harrison County.
The Martin House is exploring a donated parcel of land and preliminary designs for a new Longview facility intended to increase private meeting space, add a medical exam suite and expand daily capacity. "We're no longer content to help children and families only after abuse has occurred," Stevenson said, urging a communitywide investment in prevention and expanded services.
Stevenson closed by sharing a survivor's remark about the enduring impact of services: "I won't let the pain turn my heart into something ugly; I will show you that surviving can be beautiful." She offered to be contacted afterward and provided business cards and informational folders to commissioners.
The court did not take formal action on the presentation; commissioners thanked Stevenson for the briefing and invited further coordination if the center pursues local partnerships or requests for support.
