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(580) 762.5266
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Ponca City, OK
hearing helping healing children
- The focus of victim support and advocacy is to help reduce trauma for the child and non-offending family members and to improve outcomes. The goal at Dearing House is to ensure a consistent and comprehensive network of support for the child and family through victim-centered advocacy. Victim-centered advocacy serves to ensure a consistent and comprehensive network of support for the child and family.
That support includes:- crisis intervention and support at all stages of investigation and prosecution
- attendance and/or coordination of interviews and/or case review
- greeting and orientation of children and families
- updates on case status to the family
- provision of court education, support, and accompaniment
- assistance in receiving services and referrals to community resources
- referrals to mental health and medical treatment
- follow up services and support/advocacy is available to victims and their family/guardians during the investigation and prosecution of their case
- One of the most important services Dearing House provides is conducting forensic interviews for law enforcement and child welfare (DHS).
A forensic interview is a structured interview done in a child-friendly environment. They are conducted by trained forensic interviewers in order to ensure that the best possible interview is achieved in these situations. A forensic interview is important because the interviewer is trained to use non-leading techniques in order to preserve the validity of a child's outcry.
Having a forensic interview done also reduces the number of times the child is questioned, thus cutting back on the amount of times a child has to relive their traumatic experience - It may be necessary...and advantageous...for your child to have a medical exam. Proper medical attention is vital to a child's holistic healing. Even if the evidence of abuse is no longer physically present, an exam by our pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) is an important part of the healing process...an opportunity for the child to hear "your body is ok," and to learn about healthy ways to take care of them self. A SANE is a registered nurse who has been trained to provide comprehensive care to child victims of sexual assault and sexual abuse.
What does a pediatric SANE nurse provide?- compassionate, child-friendly care throughout the examination process
- a comprehensive, "no tears" exam to determine extent of injury (in any) and proper care
- time...as much as the child needs to be comfortable and able to complete the examination
- appropriate referrals and follow-up for caregivers
- complete and professional evidence collection for use in court if necessary
The Goals of a Pediatric Sexual Assault Examination are to:- help ensure the health, safety, and well-being of the child
- reassure and educate the child and family
- minimize physical and psychological trauma to the child victim
- maximize probably of collecting and preserving physical evidence for potential use in the legal system.
- The goals of the program are to:
- assist clients in overcoming abuse-related behavioral and emotional difficulties;
- help clients develop effective coping skills, healthy socialization skills and safety planning skills.
Timely and professional treatment and support in the aftermath of abuse may help prevent further victimization of the child as well as help prevent serious mental health issues later in life. A trauma therapist provides assessments, crisis counseling, individual, group and family therapy. Children who have been sexually abused often display symptoms such as anger, acting out, nightmares, bed wetting, withdrawal and isolation. These symptoms require treatment so the abused child can move beyond the trauma of abuse and begin healing. Some children may not display any symptoms at first; however it is important to provide counseling for them. The earlier a child enters treatment, the better it is for the child and family.
- The Multi-Disciplinary Child Response Team at Dearing House has been recognized by the State of Oklahoma for over twenty years. They meet bi-weekly to review cases and share information. A confidentiality statement is signed at each meeting by each participant to respect the confidential nature of the cases presented. The Team has developed a Method of Operations for joint investigations that reduces duplicative efforts by Child Protective Services and Law Enforcement. Our Code of Conduct emphasizes respect, diversity, dignity and fairness.
Members of the multi-disciplinary team are representatives from local police departments, county sheriff's office, Department of Human Services, mental health professionals, medical professionals, county prosecutors' office, victim advocates/case managers and Dearing House staff.
The agencies, individuals, and organizations involved in this team are committed to a coordinated, collaborative and culturally competent process for the successful investigation and assessment of child abuse, and to provide appropriate services to victims and their families. The team aims to increase safety for children through improved information sharing, safety assessment, and decision-making, and to provide resources and initiatives to reduce further trauma to child abuse victims in our communities, through the cooperative efforts of all the agencies and individuals involved. - Community Education plays an essential role in keeping kids safe, with the goal of safer homes and communities. Dearing House is in a unique position to speak up for children and to share expertise on the dynamics of child abuse as well as the best methods of overcoming trauma and maltreatment. Maggi and the staff frequently present the mission of Dearing House and ways to protects children to community groups, both formally as a presentation and informally in a small group setting. There is never a cost to having Dearing House staff speak to your organization or group.
The Break the Cycle Safe Choices Parenting Class offered by Dearing House differs from other parent education programs by focusing on how the difficult past experiences of the parent impacts their child today. Based on the national ACE study (Adverse Childhood Experiences), Break the Cycle guides the parent through a series of discussions that helps identify how choices and decisions lead to potential harm to children. With new insight... and a sense of hope, parents who have completed the class report that they have confidence in their ability to parent that assures their children have better outcomes and avoid additional trauma. The class is 8 sessions with a follow-up consultation with the Facilitator. Enrollment is voluntary or by referral from DHS or other agencies, and is provided at no cost to the participants, but full attendance and attention is required for successful completion.
VICTIM AND ADVOCACY SUPPORT
The focus of victim support and advocacy is to help reduce trauma for the child and non-offending family members and to improve outcomes. The goal at Dearing House is to ensure a consistent and comprehensive network of support for the child and family through victim-centered advocacy. Victim-centered advocacy serves to ensure a consistent and comprehensive network of support for the child and family.
That support includes:
That support includes:
- crisis intervention and support at all stages of investigation and prosecution
- attendance and/or coordination of interviews and/or case review
- greeting and orientation of children and families
- updates on case status to the family
- provision of court education, support, and accompaniment
- assistance in receiving services and referrals to community resources
- referrals to mental health and medical treatment
- follow up services and support/advocacy is available to victims and their family/guardians during the investigation and prosecution of their case
FORENSIC INTERVIEWS
One of the most important services Dearing House provides is conducting forensic interviews for law enforcement and child welfare (DHS).
A forensic interview is a structured interview done in a child-friendly environment. They are conducted by trained forensic interviewers in order to ensure that the best possible interview is achieved in these situations. A forensic interview is important because the interviewer is trained to use non-leading techniques in order to preserve the validity of a child's outcry.
Having a forensic interview done also reduces the number of times the child is questioned, thus cutting back on the amount of times a child has to relive their traumatic experience
A forensic interview is a structured interview done in a child-friendly environment. They are conducted by trained forensic interviewers in order to ensure that the best possible interview is achieved in these situations. A forensic interview is important because the interviewer is trained to use non-leading techniques in order to preserve the validity of a child's outcry.
Having a forensic interview done also reduces the number of times the child is questioned, thus cutting back on the amount of times a child has to relive their traumatic experience
SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINATIONS
Our facility has a medical examination room staffed by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner to gather forensic evidence as well as assess overall wellness of child and adult victims of sexual assault. The goal of a pediatric sexual assault exam is to provide a comprehensive sexual abuse evaluation to a child and family in an environment that is comfortable for the child. The components of the exam include a general physical examination, collection of forensic evidence, screening for evidence of sexual contact, crisis intervention and emotional support for the child and family, as well as a referral for follow-up care. The purposes of the pediatric sexual assault exam are to identify the child's emotional and physical needs related to the assault, collect and document evidence following a suspected sexual contact, provide appropriate follow-up health care referrals, and to reassure and educate the child and family. The services of a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner are available at Dearing House at no expense to the victim, family, or referring agency. The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner is a volunteer, a member of the multidisciplinary team, and maintains personal and professional liability. If during the sexual assault examination the child's medical needs appear to exceed the scope of practice of the practitioner at the Child Advocacy Center, the Ponca City Medical Center is alerted and the child is transported to the emergency room by ambulance. The child will be prepared for the evidentiary exam by the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner by explaining the process in terms that the child can understand. The child will be shown equipment such as the colposcope, gloves, and swabs and then be allowed to try out the equipment on a stuffed animal or doll. An animal or doll is used to demonstrate procedures and positions that the child will experience. This process reduces the child's anxiety while allowing the examiner an opportunity to assess the child's developmental, behavioral, and emotional status.
Counseling and support services
Individual therapy offers focused and intensive treatment to address issues related to abuse. Collateral therapy is offered in order to assist the adults in the child's life so that they may better support the child's emotional healing. Collateral therapy may involve family members or other significant people in the child's life. Family therapy addresses issues related to family functioning as well as providing a therapeutic environment for healing. Therapeutic intervention involves the non-offending family members in order to facilitate the development of healthy communication patterns, establish appropriate boundaries, and strengthen the caregiver-child bond. Additionally, family members learn strategies that will allow them to better support the emotional healing of the abused child.
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CHILD RESPONSE TEAM
The Multi-Disciplinary Child Response Team at Dearing House has been recognized by the State of Oklahoma for over ten years. They meet weekly to review cases and share information. A confidentiality statement is signed at each meeting by each participant to respect the confidential nature of the cases presented. The Team has developed a Method of Operations for joint investigations that reduces duplicative efforts by Child Protective Services and Law Enforcement.
Members of the multi-disciplinary team are representatives from local police departments, county sheriff's office, Department of Human Services, mental health professionals, medical professionals, county prosecutors' office, victim advocates/case managers and Dearing House staff.
The agencies, individuals, and organizations involved in this team are committed to a coordinated, collaborative and culturally competent process for the successful investigation and assessment of child abuse, and to provide appropriate services to victims and their families. The team aims to increase safety for children through improved information sharing, safety assessment, and decision-making, and to provide resources and initiatives to reduce further trauma to child abuse victims in our communities, through the cooperative efforts of all the agencies and individuals involved.
Members of the multi-disciplinary team are representatives from local police departments, county sheriff's office, Department of Human Services, mental health professionals, medical professionals, county prosecutors' office, victim advocates/case managers and Dearing House staff.
The agencies, individuals, and organizations involved in this team are committed to a coordinated, collaborative and culturally competent process for the successful investigation and assessment of child abuse, and to provide appropriate services to victims and their families. The team aims to increase safety for children through improved information sharing, safety assessment, and decision-making, and to provide resources and initiatives to reduce further trauma to child abuse victims in our communities, through the cooperative efforts of all the agencies and individuals involved.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Community Education plays an essential role in keeping kids safe, with the goal of safer homes and communities. Dearing House is in a unique position to speak up for children and to share expertise on the dynamics of child abuse as well as the best methods of overcoming trauma and maltreatment. Maggi and Nina frequently present the mission of Dearing House and ways to protects children to community groups, both formally as a presentation and informally in a small group setting. There is never a cost to having Dearing House staff speak to your organization or group.
Nina is a trained facilitator for Darkness to Light, a national program that informs adults on how to prevent child sexual abuse. This interactive, two-hour presentation is designed to teach adults (including educators, administrators, parents and caregivers) how to recognize and respond to circumstances that put children at risk.
The Break the Cycle parenting class at Dearing House differs from other parent education programs by focusing on how the difficult past experiences of the parent impacts their child today. While other classes may teach discipline techniques, Break the Cycle guides the parent through a series of discussions that helps the parent identify how current choices and decisions lead to potential harm to children. With new insight... and a sense of hope, parents who have completed the class report that they have a new approach to parenting that assures their children have better outcomes.
Nina is a trained facilitator for Darkness to Light, a national program that informs adults on how to prevent child sexual abuse. This interactive, two-hour presentation is designed to teach adults (including educators, administrators, parents and caregivers) how to recognize and respond to circumstances that put children at risk.
The Break the Cycle parenting class at Dearing House differs from other parent education programs by focusing on how the difficult past experiences of the parent impacts their child today. While other classes may teach discipline techniques, Break the Cycle guides the parent through a series of discussions that helps the parent identify how current choices and decisions lead to potential harm to children. With new insight... and a sense of hope, parents who have completed the class report that they have a new approach to parenting that assures their children have better outcomes.