Heroes Landing Receives State Funding
Zanesville, OH-
Heroes Landing in Zanesville recently received state funding that can help provide more services to the children of Muskingum County.
April is child abuse awareness month, and these state funds are going to go a long way to help expand the center’s mission to provide advocacy, justice, and care for children that survive sexual abuse.
“These funds specifically are to support mental health within the facility. So, mental health is one of the pillars of our multidisciplinary team. We provide advocacy, nurse evaluations, forensic interviews, and this is the last pillar that we need, which is mental health therapy on site,” stated Evonne Saunders, executive director of Heroes Landing.
Mental health treatment is a critical aspect of children that survive abuse. With these funds, the center can now bring on a full-time mental health professional. Being able to provide a mental health therapist right after trauma can really help a child work through any issues they may have. This will aid Heroes Landing in being able to provide a full range of resources.
“The ethos of a child advocacy center is that the child only has to come to our center once to retell their story, rather than reliving it by telling law enforcement, a case worker, prosecutor’s office, a guidance counselor. If you come to Heroes Landing and you tell your story once, and then you receive all the services,” said Saunders.
Since the center opened last May, they have been able to help serve over 130 children. They serve all of Muskingum County and receive cases by referral from law enforcement and Child Protective Services. If you want to learn more about Heroes Landing, you can visit their website at heroeslandingcjc.org.
If you or someone you know has been affected by abuse, you can get help now by contacting:
Muskingum County Children Services at 740-455-6710
The Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office at 740-452-3637
The Zanesville Police Department at 740-455-0601
Report Child Abuse at 855-OH-Child.
