Sunflower Children's Collective

Goal: $10,000.00

Specific Need

Your support allows Sunflower Children's Collective advocates to continue providing children, and their nonoffending caregivers, in our communities with free, trauma informed and confidential services.

We know that child abuse can occur in any community, and our advocates are dedicated to providing the best support and advocacy they can to all children and their nonoffending caregivers while navigating the many facets of available support. Our advocates continue their support by working with multiple disciplinary teams, building connections with community resources and maintaining their training with rigorous professional developments offered by state and national organizations.

Mission

Sunflower Children’s Collective is an umbrella agency comprising three programs: CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocates and the CAC - Child Advocacy Center. Together, these programs work to prevent and eliminate child abuse and neglect while reducing their impact on children and families.

The mission of Sunflower Children’s Collective is to advocate for children and families through a victim-centered and trauma-informed lens serving in collaboration with community partners.

MISSION OF CASA

To make available trained volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children and youth who come into the court system of the 21st and 2nd Judicial Districts.

MISSION OF CAC

The Stepping Stones Child Advocacy Center team works tirelessly to support children and families by providing child-sensitive interviews and family advocacy following reports of possible child abuse.

Profile

In 1988, our organization began as a single CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) agency, focusing on providing trained volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children involved in the court system.

The Role of a CASA

Court-Appointed Special Advocates are volunteers from many different backgrounds who give their time to advocate for children with open cases in the court system due to issues of abuse and neglect. Our program is based on the principle that each child deserves a safe, permanent, nurturing home where they can thrive. Our volunteers are the difference between abuse and hope.

In 2008, to further support child victims of abuse, Stepping Stones CAC (Child Advocacy Center) was established under the umbrella of Sunflower Children’s Collective, formerly known as Sunflower CASA Project, Inc. This program offers forensic interviews and advocacy services for child victims and their non-offending caregivers.

Stepping Stones CAC

In 2007, Sunflower CASA Project agreed to facilitate the formation of a Child Advocacy Center in Riley County. Child Advocacy Centers, or CACs, coordinate a collaborative partnership of professionals who are dedicated to providing child-sensitive interviews and compassionate services to children and their families.

Professionals representing child protective services, legal, law enforcement, mental health, medical and other disciplines provide a coordinated team response when a child reports abuse or when there is reason to believe a child has been abused or neglected.

Nationally, there are over 400 CACs accredited by the National Children’s Alliance and there are many more CACs in development. Stepping Stones Child Advocacy Center opened its doors on July 1, 2008.