Healing Hearts Child Advocacy Center in Southaven received a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi’s Endowment for the Future of Northwest Mississippi. The grant will assist Healing Hearts in providing forensic interviewing and prevention/training efforts throughout DeSoto County in regard to child abuse.
“Healing Hearts Child Advocacy Center is very grateful and appreciative for the support given by the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, said Ashley Schachterle, executive director. “Their gracious support will help provide much needed resources to victims of child abuse as we begin our second year of providing services in DeSoto County. The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi is a great asset to our community and we are appreciative of their support helping Healing Hearts Child Advocacy Center continue to give a voice to the bravest children in DeSoto County”. (Schachterle)
The mission of Healing Hearts is to respond to child abuse with a supportive approach that reduces trauma through advocacy, treatment, education, and prevention. The organization is a member of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Mississippi and the National Children’s Alliance. Healing Heart’s work began in June 2012 and its multi-disciplinary team had reviewed 312 cases of child abuse resulting in a 400 percent increase in cases presented to the District Attorney. They provide a child-friendly environment for victims of child abuse to tell their story and begin the healing process.
“More than seventy individuals, companies and organizations donated to create the Endowment for the Future of Northwest Mississippi, and their donations were matched by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and then the Maddox Foundation,” said Community Foundation President Tom Pittman. “With this grant, their donations are directly helping to improve the situations for vulnerable children and enabling them to lead productive lives.”
Donations to the Endowment for the Future of Northwest Mississippi and other funds at the Community Foundation are welcome.