The CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region is expanding its Children’s Advocacy Center and Child Abuse Prevention Education programming into Huron County through an affiliation with the Huron County Child Abuse/Neglect Council. With a new office at 219 E. Huron Ave. in Bad Axe, the CAN Council will build upon Huron County’s strong history of child abuse prevention programming and serve even more local children through the addition of the CAN Council’s nationally accredited Children’s Advocacy Center.
“The CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region takes great pride in expanding our services to protect Huron County’s children,” said Emily Yeager, President/CEO of CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region. “Huron County Child Abuse/Neglect Council Board members care deeply for their community and have entrusted our CAN Council with enhancing their efforts. Just as we do for the children of Arenac, Bay and Saginaw counties, we’ll work tirelessly to secure an end to child abuse and neglect for the children of Huron County.”
Sexually or physically abused children, or those who’ve witnessed violence, recount their experience to a specially trained forensic interviewer at the CAN Council’s Children’s Advocacy Centers. Observing the interview are all parties who need to hear the child’s disclosure: the prosecutor, law enforcement and children’s protective service workers. The child tells of his abuse to one person, at one place, just one time – minimizing the trauma of reliving the details. Meanwhile, non-offending caregivers are supported through the process and receive referrals for counseling during the investigation and beyond.
“This affiliation will help us further protect the children of Huron County and offer more services to families as we continue to make a difference in the lives of these at-risk children,” said Huron County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Rutkowski. “We expect the Children’s Advocacy Center will provide another effective resource for all of law enforcement in the successful prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases.”
Erinn Mausolf, President of the Huron County Child Abuse/Neglect Council, said she is pleased to partner with an organization with well-established policies and procedures, programs and opportunities for growth. “The CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region offers all that, not to mention the solid, positive presence that they currently have throughout the region,” she said. “We are excited to bring all of those opportunities to Huron County – especially to our littlest residents.”
Join the CAN Council for an Open House to celebrate the expansion from 2 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29 beginning at Raymond James Financial Services at 1 E. Huron Ave. in Bad Axe, located down the street from the new CAN Council office. Light refreshments will be served, and an overview of CAN Council programming will be provided. Guests will then travel by golf cart or on foot to the new CAN Council office at 219 E. Huron Ave. in Bad Axe for a guided tour. The event will conclude with a 6 p.m. program at the new CAN Council office.
