West Virginia Child Advocacy Network receives $100K Highmark grant

CHARLESTON -- The West Virginia Child Advocacy Network has received a $100,000 grant from Highmark West Virginia Charitable Fund for Health for local Child Advocacy Centers to provide robust mental health treatment to children who have experienced abuse.

The Advocacy Network served more than 4,700 new children last year at 21 centers across the state. A core service of the centers is connecting children with evidence-based, trauma-informed mental health treatment regardless of that family's ability to pay for services.

Out of those children, 1,027 of them initiated specialized mental health treatment through an Advocacy Center CAC after referral for reported child abuse or neglect with many more receiving ongoing services. However, this accounts for only 22% of new children served.

Children's access to and the sustainability of these services is critically impacted in West Virginia by the limited availability of mental health treatment providers with training in specialized child trauma treatment, and the challenges of financial sustainability of services. The funding positively impacts both roadblocks by providing an injection of funds for hiring and training of specialized treatment providers and supporting them and their agencies' credentialing to cover costs through billing private insurance and Medicaid.

"We are so grateful for Highmark West Virginia investing in the lives of children who have been affected by abuse," said Kate Flack, chief executive officer of the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network. "This funding will set programs up to increase children's access to trauma care across West Virginia for years to come."

The Highmark West Virginia Charitable Fund for Health, a fund of the Highmark Foundation, is a private, charitable organization of Highmark Inc. that supports initiatives and programs aimed at improving community health. Their mission is to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for individuals who reside in all 55 counties in West Virginia.

"The West Virginia Child Advocacy Network plays a critical role in the lives of countless children and families in the Mountain State," said Jim Fawcett, President of Highmark West Virginia. "Expanding WVCAN's therapy services is key to helping so many begin their path to healing through the evidence-based treatment and passionate care they provide for the youngest in our communities."

The Highmark Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to improving the health, wellbeing and quality of life for individuals who reside in the communities served by Highmark, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.