Increasing Investigation and Prosecution Rates of Perpetrators and Improving Case Management at the Kawerak Child Advocacy Center.

Children's Justice Act (CJA) Partnerships for Indian Communities Grant Program supports American Indian and Alaskan Native communities for the purpose of improving the investigation, prosecution, and handling of child abuse cases, especially cases of child sexual abuse, in a manner that increases support for and lessens trauma to child abuse victims. The funding further supports programs to provide comprehensive and coordinated multidisciplinary responses to child abuse victims and provide trauma-informed, culturally competent, holistic services to child abuse victims and their families.

Kawerak’s Inc. Child Advocacy Center (CAC), requested funding to expand its first responder and multidisciplinary team (MDT) that responds to child victims of crime. With this funding, the CAC will: will: 1) hire an Educator to will develop a public awareness campaign, conduct forensic interviews as needed, and coordinate April's Child Abuse Awareness activities for Nome and the surrounding communities; 2) provide a three-day version of ChildFirst (CF)’s Forensic Interviewer Training to Nome for MDT members and first responders in the villages.

No law enforcement prosecution or investigation may occur under this award.CA/NCF