Jana McDermott, Executive Director of CAP, trainers Julie Kenniston and Christopher Kolcharno, and Jamestown Police Department Chief Harry Snellings at the recent “Follow the Evidence” training.
Child abuse is likely the most prevalent health problem children face, with the most serious array of consequences. Over 2,000 reports alleging child abuse are filed in Chautauqua County each year; each report is tallied individually and may involve multiple children.
Local law enforcement agencies and the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team identified a need for more in-depth training on investigating child physical and sexual abuse cases in Chautauqua County. Through a grant from Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the Department of Justice (US DOJ), the Child Advocacy Program (CAP) arranged the training at no cost to our county.
“Following the Evidence” was presented October 26-27, 2015 in Mayville, NY, with representatives from Jamestown, Town of Ellicott, Dunkirk, Lakewood-Busti and Fredonia Police Departments in attendance as well as Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department, Department of Health and Human Services and CAP.
The training was conducted by the National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College and emphasizes a multidisciplinary team response. Chautauqua County’s multidisciplinary team is comprised of 27 partner agencies and professionals from the fields of law enforcement, social services, mental health, medical, prosecution and victim advocacy services.
Detective Christopher Kolcharno, explains “We need to make sure we have enough law enforcement and CPS resources. It’s about taking investigations to the next step and ensuring we follow the evidence to a logical conclusion to ensure justice is served for children”
If you believe that a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police department. To report allegations of child abuse in NY call 1-800-342-3720.
CAP’s mission is to end child abuse in Chautauqua County. When abuse occurs, CAP coordinates a community response to bring healing, hope and justice to these children and families. CAP is a nationally accredited non-profit child advocacy center dedicated to ending child abuse in Chautauqua County. When abuse occurs, CAP coordinates a community response to bring healing, hope and justice to children and families. CAP has offices in Jamestown and Fredonia. CAP is a United Way Community Partner. To learn more about CAP, call 716-338-9844 or visit www.capjustice.org.
