Bivona Child Advocacy Center

TO COORDINATE SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR CHILD VICTIMS OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE.

BIVONA IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT OFFERS A SAFE, WELCOMING PLACE WHERE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY OR PHYSICALLY ABUSED CAN BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY OF HEALING. BIVONA FACILITATES A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS THAT INCLUDES 23 AGENCIES AND PROVIDES THE PHYSICAL SPACE WHERE CASES OF CHILD SEXUAL AND SEVERE PHYSICAL ABUSE, WHENEVER POSSIBLE AND PRACTICAL ARE INVESTIGATED, EVALUATED, AND TREATED. IN 2021 ALONE, BIVONA EVALUATED NEARLY 2,000 CHILDREN. BIVONA ALSO LEADS THE MONROE COUNTY CHILD FATALITY REVIEW TEAM, WHICH EVALUATES ALL SUDDEN, UNEXPLAINED OR UNEXPECTED CHILD FATALITIES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ADDITIONALLY, BIVONA IS DEDICATED TO INCREASING COMMUNITY AWARENESS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE THROUGH ITS HOSTING OF THE BIVONA CHILD ABUSE SUMMIT CONFERENCE WITH OVER 1,000 AREA PROFESSIONALS IN ATTENDANCE IN 2021. BIVONA ALSO ADDRESSES PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE BY PROVIDING COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. IN 2018, BIVONA BEGAN OFFERING A PREVENTION EDUCATION CURRICULUM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AT THE START OF THE 2020/2021 SCHOOL YEAR, BIVONA EXPANDED OUR REACH INTO SIXTEEN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, PROVIDING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WITH AGE APPROPRIATE SAFETY INFORMATION. DURING 2021, THE MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT CONTINUED WITH SERVICES THAT WERE DELIVERED IN PERSON AND VIA TELEHEALTH. ADDITIONALLY, BIVONA EXPANDED OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH A LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER WHO SPECIALIZES IN PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY TO CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA. BIVONA OBTAINS ITS SUPPORT DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY FROM INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY.