CACCC COVID-19 RESPONSE
LATEST UPDATE
About
This page is dedicated to providing up-to-date information to our our clients and supporters.
At Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, we understand that this global pandemic of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is an unprecedented situation, and many are struggling. We know that the services we provide are crucial to many children and families in our community.
We remain committed to providing services in a safe and secure environment. Please know that our supporters, staff, partners, volunteers, and clients are always at the heart of our decisions and we are managing this crisis with them, and our entire community in mind.
• We are closely monitoring the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as local, state, and federal health officials.
• As an agency, we have followed and implemented the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for cleaning and sanitizing by increasing our sanitation practices throughout the Center.
• We have suspended the attendance of volunteer groups, and group therapy sessions as to mitigate risk.
• Critical staff members remain on-site and are able and ready to respond with our partners, to children and families in need. All staff and partners who are able to work off-site are working from home.
• Our Center’s leadership team has taken steps to ensure agency readiness for potential short and long-term implications as a result of this epidemic.
• Additionally, following the latest restrictions and guidelines on social distancing, and for the safety of the entire community, we have made the difficult, but necessary decision to cancel Gala 2020 which was to be held on April 4th at the Star in Frisco. We are working diligently on plans to make this a virtual event. The funds raised at our annual Gala are critical to our mission of providing safety, healing, and justice to those impacted by child abuse in our community. It is due in part to this annual event, and donors like you that we are able to offer services to 100 percent of those who need them. Please stay tuned for more information as we make plans for Gala 2020 to become an online event.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Dearest Friends and Supporters,
As you all know, the work we do here at Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County is crucial to many children and families in our community. As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread throughout Collin County, we remain mission-focused and will continue to offer services to those affected by child abuse. The health and safety of our community is of utmost importance to us and we wanted to share some of the actions we have taken to help protect our employees, MDT partners, and
children and families who visit the Center.
- We are closely monitoring the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as local, state, and federal health officials.
- As an agency, we have followed and implemented the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for cleaning and sanitizing by increasing our sanitation practices throughout the Center.
- We have suspended the attendance of volunteer groups, and group therapy sessions as to mitigate risk.
- Critical staff members remain on-site and are able and ready to respond with our partners, to children and families in need. All staff and partners who are able to work off-site are working from home.
- Our Center’s leadership team has taken steps to ensure agency readiness for potential short and long-term implications as a result of this epidemic.
- Additionally, following the latest restrictions and guidelines on social distancing, and for the safety of the entire community, we have made the difficult, but necessary decision to cancel Gala 2020 which was to be held on April 4th at the Star in Frisco. We are working diligently on plans to make this a virtual event. The funds raised at our annual Gala are critical to our mission of providing safety, healing, and justice to those impacted by child abuse in our community. It is due in part to this annual event, and donors like you that we are able to offer services to 100 percent of those who need them. Please stay tuned for more information as we make plans for Gala 2020 to become an online event.
We understand that this global pandemic is an unprecedented situation, and many are struggling. Thank you for your continued support and understanding. Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County remains committed to providing services in a safe and secure environment. Please know that our supporters, staff, partners, volunteers, and our clients are always at the heart of our decisions and we are managing this situation with them and our entire community in mind.
Sincerely,
Lynne McLean, CEO
Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County
Additionally, while school closures and mandated isolation is vital to the health and safety of our community, the sad reality is that it puts children at a far greater risk of abuse. For example:
- Children may be seeking social interactions online that could lead to potential victimization.
- There is a high risk for children being left with unsafe adults, or not being adequately supervised due to school closures and parents still having to report to work.
- Children now have very limited access to safe adults, like teachers, to report abuse that is happening in their homes. Teachers, administrators, school counselors and other educational professionals report one in every five child-mistreatment claims in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread throughout Collin County, the work of the Children’s Advocacy Center is now more critical than ever.
Reports of child abuse are expected to rise significantly over the next few months. Due to social isolation, many children are now required to shelter in place with their abuser. Additionally, parents and caregivers are now faced with providing constant care for their children, coupled with financial and economic uncertainty, and children are suffering because of it.
Today, we need your help to ensure that every child in crisis will have access to safety, healing and justice. We simply cannot afford to wait.
The services we offer are critical to children and families victimized by abuse in our community. If you would like to provide support to the Center at this time, here are some ways you can help:
