Sunflower House

TO SEE SAFE CHILDREN THRIVING IN NURTURING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES

CHILD ASSESSMENT PROGRAM: SUNFLOWER HOUSE'S CHILD ASSESSMENT PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVE THEIR BEST CHANCE AT JUSTICE AND HEALING. THE PROGRAM WORKS TOWARD THIS GOAL BY COORDINATING A COLLABORATIVE RESPONSE TO CHILD SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS, INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, CHILD PROTECTION WORKERS, MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, VICTIM ADVOCATES, AND PROSECUTORS. ONCE A CHILD IN JOHNSON OR WYANDOTTE COUNTIES MAKES A DISCLOSURE OF ABUSE AND IT IS REPORTED TO LOCAL CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES OR LAW ENFORCEMENT, A REFERRAL IS MADE TO SUNFLOWER HOUSE. OUR INTERVIEW SPECIALISTS CONDUCT CHILD-SENSITIVE INTERVIEWS OF ALLEGED CHILD VICTIMS USING PROVEN FORENSIC PRACTICES. SUNFLOWER HOUSE COORDINATES SPECIALIZED MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS BY FORENSIC MEDICAL PROVIDERS, AND MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY, AVAILABLE ONSITE THROUGH A CONTRACT WITH PACES, A LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER, OR OTHER QUALIFIED TRAUMA-FOCUSED THERAPISTS IN THE COMMUNITY. ADDITIONALLY, THE FAMILIES RECEIVE ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT SERVICES FROM SUNFLOWER HOUSE FAMILY ADVOCATES FOR AS LONG AS NEEDED. FROM JULY 2021-JUNE 2022, SUNFLOWER HOUSE CONDUCTED 467 FORENSIC INTERVIEWS FOR 465 CHILDREN AND 2 ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. SUNFLOWER HOUSE FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS PREPARED FOR 48 COURT CASES, ATTENDED COURT ON 32 OCCASIONS, AND TESTIFIED IN COURT 27 TIMES. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN COMPARISON TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AS COURT SERVICES WERE IMPACTED BY COVID-19. 388 FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS WERE GIVEN FAMILY ADVOCACY SUPPORT SERVICES. FAMILY ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT SERVICES FROM SUNFLOWER HOUSE ARE AVAILABLE AS LONG AS NEEDED BY THE FAMILY/CAREGIVER. MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY AND TRAUMA TREATMENT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE ON-SIGHT OR VIA TELEHEALTH THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH PACES, A COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER. ALL CLINICIANS ARE TRAINED ON EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES TO ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF TRAUMA ON A CHILD AND FAMILY. 184 CHILDREN AND 35 ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN THERAPY SERVICES. 2247.25 HOURS OF THERAPY SERVICES WERE PROVIDED FROM JULY 2021-JUNE 2022. THE ADDITION OF TELEHEALTH HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL FOR MANY OF OUR CLIENTS AND FAMILIES.

EDUCATION PROGRAM: SUNFLOWER HOUSE PARTNERS WITH MORE THAN 175 JOHNSON AND WYANDOTTE COUNTY SCHOOLS AND PRESCHOOLS TO PROVIDE PERSONAL SAFETY AND SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAMS. OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, THE HAPPY BEAR PLAY, TEACHES 4-7 YEAR OLDS TO RECOGNIZE, RESIST AND REPORT CHILD ABUSE TO A TRUSTED ADULT. LET'S TALK, THINK FIRST AND STAY SAFE, LET'S CYBERCHAT, AND ABUSIVE HEAD TRAUMA ARE OFFERED TO ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH AND TEACH AGE-APPROPRIATE PERSONAL SAFETY AT AGES WHEN CHILDREN ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO SEXUAL ABUSE. PROFESSIONALS ARE TAUGHT THEIR LEGAL MANDATED REPORTER RESPONSIBILITIES, HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS OF MALTREATMENT, AND REPORTING PROCESSES. OTHER PROGRAMS OFFERED TO ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY INCLUDED KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE AND STEWARDS OF CHILDREN. FROM JULY 2021-JUNE 2022, SUNFLOWER HOUSE PROVIDED 24,177 CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS EDUCATIONAL SERVICES ON PERSONAL SAFETY. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OVER THE PRIOR YEAR. ALL EDUCATION PROGRAMS OFFERED BY SUNFLOWER HOUSE ARE AVAILABLE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH. IN JANUARY 2022, THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH THE DALLAS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER, SUNFLOWER HOUSE BEGAN OFFERING COMO RECONOCER Y REPORTAR EL ABUSO HACIA MENORES, A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE OUR LATINX COMMUNITY ON HOW TO RECOGNIZE, RESPOND AND REPORT ABUSE. 49 ADULTS ATTENDED THIS NEW TRAINING. 1,259 PROFESSIONAL AND ADULTS WERE PROVIDED WITH EDUCATION REGARDING TOPICS SUCH AS MANDATED REPORTER TRAINING AND KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE. ALL SUNFLOWER HOUSE EDUCATION PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO ENSURE INCLUSION AND REPRESENTATION IN TRAINING MATERIALS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS CONTINUE DOT BE PROVIDED IN PERSONA AND VIRTUAL, DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF THE TARGET AUDIENCE.