Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Child Advocacy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wayne County children's advocacy center asks Michigan lawmakers for $1.5M to shorten interview wait times
Summary
Presenters told the House appropriations subcommittee that Kids Talk Children's Advocacy Center in Wayne County is serving about 2,100 children a year but has interview waits up to three weeks; they asked for $1.5 million to hire forensic interviewers and advocates to reduce delays and protect investigations.
Rep. Blinting introduced a $1.5 million legislative request for Kids Talk Children's Advocacy Center, a program of the Guidance Center that serves Wayne County. Laura Huot, CEO of the Guidance Center, told the subcommittee the center handles roughly 2,100 children a year and that "children are waiting now up to 3 weeks to be interviewed," far longer than the 3—5-day best practice used by other advocacy centers.
Huot said the requested funds would be used primarily to hire forensic interviewers and advocates so interviews can be completed quickly and recorded for use in criminal prosecutions. Melanie Richards, Kids Talk director, told members that delays are "compromising investigations" and that early intervention within about two weeks can prevent post-traumatic stress symptoms.
Committee members asked about the program's funding mix; Huot said forensic interviewing has relied heavily on federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) dollars that have diminished, and that the Guidance Center supplements those funds with grants and its own certified community behavioral health clinic revenues. Members and presenters also discussed outreach and a capital campaign the Guidance Center has launched to expand facilities in Detroit.
The presenters said the $1.5 million request is targeted to personnel for the forensic interviewing component, not facilities, and argued state support would bring Wayne County wait times in line with other large jurisdictions in Michigan.
