Gulf Coast Kid’s House is celebrating 20 years of life-saving work with an anniversary party on April 3.
“We welcome our community to come and join our celebration of 20 years of protecting children in Escambia County,” said Amy Stamey, GCKH prevention coordinator.
“At GKCH, we work collaboratively with government and community agencies for the investigation, intervention, prosecution of offenders and healing for victims of child abuse and neglect,” Stamey said.
GCKH’s 20th birthday celebration promises food, fun and an open house for tours to see the community’s investments at work for the children in Escambia County.
GCKH opened its doors at the Marilyn Kapner Levin Center for Children’s Advocacy and Child Abuse Prevention and the Allen R. Levin Family Advocacy and Education Wing in 2004. GCKH serves as Escambia County’s only children’s advocacy center and a beacon of hope for abused children. As a children’s advocacy center, they combine all the professionals and resources needed in one child-friendly facility. Child victims and their families receive mental health counseling at GCKH, and because the only hope to end child abuse is education, GCKH also offers a variety of child abuse prevention courses in the community.
Powerful statistics show the effective impact of GKCH’s efforts in Escambia County, where one in 13 kids is abused before they turn 18.
Because of the effectiveness of a collaborative approach, the prosecution rate of child abuse offenders has jumped from under 20% before 2004 to over 90% today.
They had 100% successful prosecution at jury trials last fiscal year.
They were able to train over 13,000 students on protecting themselves from child abuse.
Counselors provided 2,400 sessions to children healing from abuse and neglect, free of charge.
Over 2,200 adults took the Know Child Abuse training online at KnowChildAbuse.org.
According to Randi Lawrence, manager of philanthropy at GCKH, community partnerships are vital to the success of GCKH.
“Seventy-five percent of our support comes from individuals and organizations locally,” Lawrence said. “This enables over 13,000 children a year to learn about protecting themselves from abuse. It funds a full-time mental health therapist to help stabilize children and families quickly after reported abuse.”
Generous community support funds the services and programs GCKH offers to strengthen the community and make it a safer place for children.
If you would like to partner with GCKH by donating or learning more, visit gulfcoastkidshouse.org or call 850-595-0007.
“Seventy-five percent of our support comes from individuals and organizations locally. This enables over 13,000 children a year to learn about protecting themselves from abuse. It funds a full-time mental health therapist to help stabilize children and families quickly after reported abuse.”
— Randi Lawrence
Gulf Coast Kid’s House
20th Anniversary Party
When: 3-5 p.m., April 3
Where: 3401 N. 12th Ave., Pensacola
Info: gulfcoastkidshouse.org or 850-595-0007
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Liz Biggs is a Pensacola native and mother of four. Once upon a time, she had a high-pressure career but now she has a pension and is a freelance writer for Bella Magazine. Liz enjoys music, dancing, tennis and travel and tries to find humor in everything.
