The Chatlos Foundation Grant Proposal for the Children’s Advocacy Center By: James Foskett Meg Giddings

Chatlos Foundation Grant Application Guidelines 1) Cover Letter 2) Proposal 3) Copy of IRS tax-exempt status letter 4) Organizational Budget 5) Completed Chatlos Application

1) Cover Letter The cover letter provides a brief introduction to the applying agency The cover letter provides a brief introduction to the applying agency Overview of services Overview of services General description of the request for funds General description of the request for funds General use for funds General use for funds

Cover Letter cont.

2) Grant Proposal The proposal should provide the most significant information on the applying agency and the proposed program The proposal should provide the most significant information on the applying agency and the proposed program Specific details here supporting why the agency deserves the funds and how the funds will be used Specific details here supporting why the agency deserves the funds and how the funds will be used Proposal for the Chatlos Foundation is easily divided into several sections: Proposal for the Chatlos Foundation is easily divided into several sections: 1) Organization Mission and Organization Description 2) Organizational Achievement 3) Program Goals

I. Mission and Description of Agency CAC Mission Statement The Children’s Advocacy Center of Lowndes County, Inc. (CAC) is a private, nonprofit organization which seeks to minimize trauma xperienced by child vctimsof physical and/or sexual abuse and their non-offending family members. Using a multi-disciplinary team, the CAC partners with law enforcement, child protective services, the office of the district attorney, a local pediatrician, and mental health providers to increase successful prosecution of child abuse cases utilizing forensic interviews and court preparation for victims. The CAC seeks to address client needs through therapy services and support groups, provided in a child-friendly environment. Additionally, the CAC will serve as an educational resource for the community on child abuse and child abuse-related issues. (Source: CAC Board of Directors Handbook, 1997) Description The Children’s Advocacy Center of Lowndes County, Inc. (CAC) is a private, non-profit agency whose mission is to minimize trauma experienced by child victims of physical and/or sexual abuse. We strive to achieve this by minimizing the number of time a child must be interviewed following a disclosure of abuse, by providing forensic interviews and assisting in the investigation and prosecution of criminal child abuse cases. To directly address the needs of the child victim and his or her non-offending family members children, the CAC provides individual and family therapy as well as support groups for children and their parents. The CAC therapy program seeks to provide coping skills and to provide educational tools for children including good touch/bad touch discussions, open discussions about healthy relationships as is age appropriate, relationships with peers, opening lines of communication with parents, overcoming perceived biases about abuse, and a strong emphasis on empowering children to realize that abuse is never their fault. For parents, therapy focuses on opening the lines of communication with their child, effective methods of protecting their children, and overcoming biases and stereotypes associated with abuse. The CAC opened its doors in 1997 and employed only one employee. In the past eight years, the CAC has grown to four employees including an Executive Director, Therapist, Case Manager, and Office Manager/Community Outreach Coordinator. The growth has allowed the center to focus more resources on the community education aspect of the CAC mission. Through community public relations events, participation in community activities, membership on other non-profit social service-oriented organization boards, presentations to clubs, organizations, schools and religious organizations in the community the CAC has been able to education members of the community on child abuse prevention and other issues.

II. Organizational Achievements In 1995, a task force was developed to determine the need for a Children’s Advocacy Center in the community. In 1995, a task force was developed to determine the need for a Children’s Advocacy Center in the community. The CAC opened in 1997 with one employee, Laurie Anne Bajalia who is serves as Executive Director today. At that time, the center provided forensic interview only. The CAC opened in 1997 with one employee, Laurie Anne Bajalia who is serves as Executive Director today. At that time, the center provided forensic interview only hired for the Therapist, Case Manager, and Office Manager/Outreach Coordinator positions. Began providing individual and family therapy services hired for the Therapist, Case Manager, and Office Manager/Outreach Coordinator positions. Began providing individual and family therapy services. In 1999, the CAC began hosting Support Groups for children and families In 1999, the CAC began hosting Support Groups for children and families In 2000, the CAC began direct community outreach through quarterly volunteer trainings In 2000, the CAC began direct community outreach through quarterly volunteer trainings In 2005, became a full-accredited member of the National Children’s Alliance In 2005, became a full-accredited member of the National Children’s Alliance

III. Program Goals The CAC currently seeks to meet the community’s needs in the area of child abuse prevention and education by providing community presentations, participating in community events, and facilitation of quarterly volunteer trainings provided for interested community members. For the CAC’s client population, brochures providing statistical data on child abuse, prevention information, and coping recommendations are also available at the center. In an effort to further serve the community and to effectively address the knowledge and educational needs of more diverse populations the CAC plans to establish and maintain a Child Abuse Education Resource Library. To successfully implement the resource library we are requesting fund from The Chatlos Foundation in the amount of $10, in support of implementation of the program, purchase, and operational expenses.

The primary goal of the Child Abuse Education Resource Library Program is to increase community awareness of child abuse issues including, but not limited to: prevention, local, state, national, and global statistics on child abuse, current research on treatment of victims of physical and sexual abuse, information on recovery, healthy relationships, safe sexual practices, court preparation, and records of legal statutes concerning child abuse and sex offenses in the state of Georgia. The Resource Library will be housed in the CAC facility and will be accessible by appointment and approval of a staff member as the CAC center is securely maintained for the safety of clients and staff. As the CAC has grown, we have been able to significantly increase the segments of the population receiving education through our outreach program; however a significant need remains. In other to prevent and stop child abuse, it is critical for the community to understand how commonly abuse occurs, that it touches all members of the population regardless of race, age, gender, or socio-economic status, and that by spreading knowledge and understanding of factual information we, as a community can work to stop the abuse. The Resource Library aims to reach population segments in need of this information including: (1) child victims of physical and sexual abuse; (2) non-offending parents, caregivers, and other family members of child victims; (3) community members wishing to educate themselves; and (4) mental health professionals in the community.

In order to serve child victims and their family members, the Resource Library will be used to supplement the CAC’s therapy program. Texts and materials available will provide information on the frequency of child abuse, coping with the victimization of a family member, emotional issues associated with the abuse, healthy relationships, information on healthy sexual behaviors available as is age appropriate, and information on empowering children in all aspect of their lives. Specifically for parents, materials on effective parenting approaches and techniques to raising children, coping with the sexual and/or physical victimization of a child, and information geared toward creating a better understanding of the legal process as they guide their child through the system. The community’s needs are sporadic, however materials from the library will serve as a resource for staff members and members of the CAC board of director’s providing information on child abuse related issues. Texts and data from research and materials housed in the Resource Library will be utilized in presentations and public events to educate the community. Additionally, when specific requests are made for use of materials, community members will be allowed to utilize these materials as approved on a case by case basis.

As therapeutic treatment of child abuse victims and child abuse- related issues is a specialty which many mental health practitioners are not trained in, the CAC often accepts referrals from other practitioners in the community. In order to serve the community effectively the CAC mission extends to educating those professionals serving the community in the area of mental health. The CAC will of course continue serving any child who has been a victim of abuse; however the Resource Library will be available to any mental health professional seeking additional information on the topic. Texts and materials will focus on effective treatment methods, treatment of adult survivors of abuse, parenting child victims of abuse, and prevention. The Resource Library will be made available by appointments scheduled with the CAC Office Manager.

IV. Proposed Use of Funds The funds requested will be used to facilitate a round-table discussion between professionals from the fields of child abuse, academia, the office of the district attorney, and mental health practitioners in the field. The round table will meet three times over the course of three months with a goal of identifying authors, topics, and specific texts for purchase for the Resource Library. Participants will be volunteers. Following a selection of texts, the purchase of materials for the library including shelving, a user logging system, card check-out system, and book identification system will be purchased for a total of $1, The CAC plans to utilized $8, for the purchase of texts, journal subscriptions, and any other materials needed to maximize topics covered and information available to the community. The funds requested will be used to facilitate a round-table discussion between professionals from the fields of child abuse, academia, the office of the district attorney, and mental health practitioners in the field. The round table will meet three times over the course of three months with a goal of identifying authors, topics, and specific texts for purchase for the Resource Library. Participants will be volunteers. Following a selection of texts, the purchase of materials for the library including shelving, a user logging system, card check-out system, and book identification system will be purchased for a total of $1, The CAC plans to utilized $8, for the purchase of texts, journal subscriptions, and any other materials needed to maximize topics covered and information available to the community.

3) 501-(c)3 pg. 1 The 501-(c)3 letter serves as evidence of tax-exempt status for the organization The agency, in this case the CAC is identified by the IRS by Employee Identification Number. The grantor will use this number for their tax purposes should the agency receive requested funding.

501-(c)3 pg. 2

501-(c)3 pg. 3

501-(c)3 letter pg. 4

4) Organizational Budget cont. A copy of the actual CAC budget was not included due to length, however the graph below depicts our general operating budget for A copy of the actual CAC budget was not included due to length, however the graph below depicts our general operating budget for Annual Revenue Annual Expenses

5) Chatlos Foundation Application The Foundation utilizes a standardized application to be completed by each applying agency The Foundation utilizes a standardized application to be completed by each applying agency The application can be accessed at: The application can be accessed at: