Center For Hope Inc

CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER PROVIDING FORENSIC, MEDICAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE AND OTHER ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES.

BCAC ENSURES THAT ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, TRAUMA, AND OTHER RESPONSES ARE CONDUCTED WITHOUT FORCING CHILDREN TO BE RE-VICTIMIZED OR RELIVE THEIR EXPERIENCES FOR EACH INVESTIGATOR WHO NEEDS INFORMATION. EACH CHILD TALKS ONE-ON-ONE WITH ONE OF BCAC'S FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS, SOCIAL WORKERS TRAINED IN NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR FORENSIC ASSESSMENT. THIS GIVES CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WHAT HAPPENED IN THEIR OWN WORDS. THIS CRISIS RESPONSE HAS BEEN THE FOUNDATION OF BCAC'S OPERATIONS FOR 30 YEARS. BCAC IS AVAILABLE WITHIN TWO HOURS OF AN ALLEGATION AND INCLUDES A 24/7/365 ON-CALL SERVICE AND WALK-IN PROGRAM, SERVING FAMILIES AROUND THE CLOCK WITHOUT WAITING TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THIS 24-HOUR PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY AND THE ONLY ONE IN MARYLAND. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2020 (JULY 1, 2019 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2020), FORENSIC INTERVIEWS AND RISK ASSESSMENTS WERE PROVIDED FOR 684 CHILDREN. APPROXIMATELY 14% OF THESE INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED AFTER HOURS AND 20% WERE CONDUCTED THROUGH THE WALK-IN PROGRAM. IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW TEAM ESTABLISHED TELE-FORENSIC INTERIVEWS AND CONDUCTED 90 INTERVIEWS USING THIS TECHNOLOGY.MEDICAL EXAMINATIONSBCAC'S MEDICAL FACILITY IS LOCATED IN THE SAME BUILDING AS BCAC'S INTERVIEW FACILITIES; THEREFORE, CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE AN EXAMINATION ON-SITE THE SAME DAY AS THEIR INTERVIEW TO DETERMINE IF ANY PHYSICAL SIGNS OF TRAUMA ARE PRESENT. BCAC PROVIDES THIS SERVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES SET FORTH BY MARYLAND CHILD ABUSE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, AS WELL AS THE ACCREDITATION STANDARDS OF THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE, A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT CREATES BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS AND PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES TO THE NATION'S MORE THAN 900 CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS.IN FISCAL YEAR 2020, BCAC'S MEDICAL TEAM CONDUCTED 706 MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR CHILDREN AT BCAC'S ON-SITE MEDICAL CLINIC. IN ADDITION TO CONDUCTING 135 FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMS IN CASES OF SUSPECTED CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, BCAC ALSO PROVIDED 571 INITIAL MEDICAL SCREENINGS FOR CHILDREN ENTERING STATE SPONSORED FOSTER CARE. PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE ON-SITE FURTHERS BCAC'S GOAL OF CREATING A CHILD-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT AND STREAMLINED CARE BY ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR CLIENTS TO MAKE A SEPARATE APPOINTMENT AT A HOSPITAL OR PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE.BCAC'S FAMILY ADVOCACY TEAM PROVIDES ONGOING FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FAMILIES, INCLUDING HOME, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY VISITS, COURT SUPPORT, AND ASSISTANCE IN ACCESSING FOOD, HOUSING, EDUCATIONAL, LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, AND REFERRALS FOR ONGOING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. IN FISCAL YEAR 2020, THE FAMILY ADVOCATES CONDUCTED OVER 2500 SESSIONS FOR 1253 CLIENTS AND FACILITATED OVER 100 VISITS WITH CHILDREN AND THE FACILITY DOG WHILE ON SITE. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICESIN FISCAL YEAR 2020, THERAPISTS AT BCAC'S MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC SAW 137 CLIENTS IN AN ESTIMATED 1,444 SESSIONS. OF THESE CLIENTS, APPROXIMATELY 11% RECEIVED SERVICES IN SPANISH FROM BILINGUAL STAFF. AN ADDITIONAL 9 CLIENTS RECEIVED MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE JUVENILE MISSING PERSONS PROGRAM. BCAC PROVIDED 6 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH CRISIS COUNSELING AND 187 PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS RETURNED TO BCAC TO PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS SUPPORT GROUPS. IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, MANY SESSIONS WERE CONVERTED TO TELE-MENTAL HEALTH SESSIONS. BETWEEN MARCH-JUNE 2020, 182 SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED IN THIS MANNER.TRAINING, PREVENTION & OUTREACHBCAC TRAINED PROFESSIONALS AND PARENTS/CAREGIVERS FROM MARYLAND, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND FROM AROUND THE WORLD. APPROXIMATELY 120 TRAININGS WERE HELD WITH OVER 10,000 ATTENDEES. BCAC ALSO EDUCATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM, EXPANDING TO NEARLY 4,500 FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS. TRAINING TOPICS INCLUDED MANDATED REPORTER TRAINING, PROTECTING KIDS' MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE PANDEMIC, HOW TO CREATE A TRAUMA-RESPONSIVE VIRTUAL SPACE, AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE ABUSE REMOTELY. 81 YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THE YOUTH MENTORING/SUPPORT PROGRAMS. TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY DURING THE PANDEMIC A VIRTUAL RESOURCE FAIR WAS HELD TO CONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS ONLINE WITH OVER 30 OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. CLOTHING, FOOD, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVES FOR COMMUNITY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WERE HELD AND VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS WERE CONDUCTED SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILDREN TO ASSIST THEM WITH COPING DURING THE PANDEMIC. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND LEGAL SERVICES:IN FY 2018, BCAC WAS ABLE TO EXPAND ITS CAPACITY WITH THE ADDITION OF A DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND LEGAL SERVICES. THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR HAS FOLLOWED AND TRACKED NUMEROUS BILLS, TESTIFIED AT 14 HEARINGS, ORGANIZED SEVERAL PANELS OF SPEAKERS TO TESTIFY, FOSTERED RELATIONSHIPS WITH LEADERS FROM CITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, AND CONTINUOUSLY WORKS ON EXPANDING BCAC'S PRESENCE STATEWIDE. IN FY 2019, THE DIRECTOR LAUNCHED A LEGAL SERVICE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE LEGAL COUNSELING AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO BCAC CLIENTS. IN FY 2020 THE LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM ASSISTED 48 CLIENTS

BCAC ENSURES THAT ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, TRAUMA, AND OTHER RESPONSES ARE CONDUCTED WITHOUT FORCING CHILDREN TO BE RE-VICTIMIZED OR RELIVE THEIR EXPERIENCES FOR EACH INVESTIGATOR WHO NEEDS INFORMATION. EACH CHILD TALKS ONE-ON-ONE WITH ONE OF BCAC'S FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS, SOCIAL WORKERS TRAINED IN NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR FORENSIC ASSESSMENT. THIS GIVES CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WHAT HAPPENED IN THEIR OWN WORDS. THIS CRISIS RESPONSE HAS BEEN THE FOUNDATION OF BCAC'S OPERATIONS FOR 30 YEARS. BCAC IS AVAILABLE WITHIN TWO HOURS OF AN ALLEGATION AND INCLUDES A 24/7/365 ON-CALL SERVICE AND WALK-IN PROGRAM, SERVING FAMILIES AROUND THE CLOCK WITHOUT WAITING TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THIS 24-HOUR PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY AND THE ONLY ONE IN MARYLAND. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2020 (JULY 1, 2019 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2020), FORENSIC INTERVIEWS AND RISK ASSESSMENTS WERE PROVIDED FOR 684 CHILDREN. APPROXIMATELY 14% OF THESE INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED AFTER HOURS AND 20% WERE CONDUCTED THROUGH THE WALK-IN PROGRAM. IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW TEAM ESTABLISHED TELE-FORENSIC INTERIVEWS AND CONDUCTED 90 INTERVIEWS USING THIS TECHNOLOGY.MEDICAL EXAMINATIONSBCAC'S MEDICAL FACILITY IS LOCATED IN THE SAME BUILDING AS BCAC'S INTERVIEW FACILITIES; THEREFORE, CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE AN EXAMINATION ON-SITE THE SAME DAY AS THEIR INTERVIEW TO DETERMINE IF ANY PHYSICAL SIGNS OF TRAUMA ARE PRESENT. BCAC PROVIDES THIS SERVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES SET FORTH BY MARYLAND CHILD ABUSE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, AS WELL AS THE ACCREDITATION STANDARDS OF THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE, A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT CREATES BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS AND PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES TO THE NATION'S MORE THAN 900 CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS.IN FISCAL YEAR 2020, BCAC'S MEDICAL TEAM CONDUCTED 706 MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR CHILDREN AT BCAC'S ON-SITE MEDICAL CLINIC. IN ADDITION TO CONDUCTING 135 FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMS IN CASES OF SUSPECTED CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, BCAC ALSO PROVIDED 571 INITIAL MEDICAL SCREENINGS FOR CHILDREN ENTERING STATE SPONSORED FOSTER CARE. PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE ON-SITE FURTHERS BCAC'S GOAL OF CREATING A CHILD-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT AND STREAMLINED CARE BY ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR CLIENTS TO MAKE A SEPARATE APPOINTMENT AT A HOSPITAL OR PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE.BCAC'S FAMILY ADVOCACY TEAM PROVIDES ONGOING FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FAMILIES, INCLUDING HOME, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY VISITS, COURT SUPPORT, AND ASSISTANCE IN ACCESSING FOOD, HOUSING, EDUCATIONAL, LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, AND REFERRALS FOR ONGOING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. IN FISCAL YEAR 2020, THE FAMILY ADVOCATES CONDUCTED OVER 2500 SESSIONS FOR 1253 CLIENTS AND FACILITATED OVER 100 VISITS WITH CHILDREN AND THE FACILITY DOG WHILE ON SITE. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICESIN FISCAL YEAR 2020, THERAPISTS AT BCAC'S MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC SAW 137 CLIENTS IN AN ESTIMATED 1,444 SESSIONS. OF THESE CLIENTS, APPROXIMATELY 11% RECEIVED SERVICES IN SPANISH FROM BILINGUAL STAFF. AN ADDITIONAL 9 CLIENTS RECEIVED MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE JUVENILE MISSING PERSONS PROGRAM. BCAC PROVIDED 6 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH CRISIS COUNSELING AND 187 PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS RETURNED TO BCAC TO PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS SUPPORT GROUPS. IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, MANY SESSIONS WERE CONVERTED TO TELE-MENTAL HEALTH SESSIONS. BETWEEN MARCH-JUNE 2020, 182 SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED IN THIS MANNER.TRAINING, PREVENTION & OUTREACHBCAC TRAINED PROFESSIONALS AND PARENTS/CAREGIVERS FROM MARYLAND, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND FROM AROUND THE WORLD. APPROXIMATELY 120 TRAININGS WERE HELD WITH OVER 10,000 ATTENDEES. BCAC ALSO EDUCATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM, EXPANDING TO NEARLY 4,500 FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS. TRAINING TOPICS INCLUDED MANDATED REPORTER TRAINING, PROTECTING KIDS' MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE PANDEMIC, HOW TO CREATE A TRAUMA-RESPONSIVE VIRTUAL SPACE, AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE ABUSE REMOTELY. 81 YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THE YOUTH MENTORING/SUPPORT PROGRAMS. TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY DURING THE PANDEMIC A VIRTUAL RESOURCE FAIR WAS HELD TO CONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS ONLINE WITH OVER 30 OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. CLOTHING, FOOD, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVES FOR COMMUNITY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WERE HELD AND VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS WERE CONDUCTED SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILDREN TO ASSIST THEM WITH COPING DURING THE PANDEMIC. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND LEGAL SERVICES:IN FY 2018, BCAC WAS ABLE TO EXPAND ITS CAPACITY WITH THE ADDITION OF A DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND LEGAL SERVICES. THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR HAS FOLLOWED AND TRACKED NUMEROUS BILLS, TESTIFIED AT 14 HEARINGS, ORGANIZED SEVERAL PANELS OF SPEAKERS TO TESTIFY, FOSTERED RELATIONSHIPS WITH LEADERS FROM CITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, AND CONTINUOUSLY WORKS ON EXPANDING BCAC'S PRESENCE STATEWIDE. IN FY 2019, THE DIRECTOR LAUNCHED A LEGAL SERVICE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE LEGAL COUNSELING AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO BCAC CLIENTS. IN FY 2020 THE LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM ASSISTED 48 CLIENTS

BCAC ENSURES THAT ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, TRAUMA, AND OTHER RESPONSES ARE CONDUCTED WITHOUT FORCING CHILDREN TO BE RE-VICTIMIZED OR RELIVE THEIR EXPERIENCES FOR EACH INVESTIGATOR WHO NEEDS INFORMATION. EACH CHILD TALKS ONE-ON-ONE WITH ONE OF BCAC'S FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS, SOCIAL WORKERS TRAINED IN NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR FORENSIC ASSESSMENT. THIS GIVES CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WHAT HAPPENED IN THEIR OWN WORDS. THIS CRISIS RESPONSE HAS BEEN THE FOUNDATION OF BCAC'S OPERATIONS FOR 30 YEARS. BCAC IS AVAILABLE WITHIN TWO HOURS OF AN ALLEGATION AND INCLUDES A 24/7/365 ON-CALL SERVICE AND WALK-IN PROGRAM, SERVING FAMILIES AROUND THE CLOCK WITHOUT WAITING TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THIS 24-HOUR PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY AND THE ONLY ONE IN MARYLAND. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2020 (JULY 1, 2019 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2020), FORENSIC INTERVIEWS AND RISK ASSESSMENTS WERE PROVIDED FOR 684 CHILDREN. APPROXIMATELY 14% OF THESE INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED AFTER HOURS AND 20% WERE CONDUCTED THROUGH THE WALK-IN PROGRAM. IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW TEAM ESTABLISHED TELE-FORENSIC INTERIVEWS AND CONDUCTED 90 INTERVIEWS USING THIS TECHNOLOGY.MEDICAL EXAMINATIONSBCAC'S MEDICAL FACILITY IS LOCATED IN THE SAME BUILDING AS BCAC'S INTERVIEW FACILITIES; THEREFORE, CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE AN EXAMINATION ON-SITE THE SAME DAY AS THEIR INTERVIEW TO DETERMINE IF ANY PHYSICAL SIGNS OF TRAUMA ARE PRESENT. BCAC PROVIDES THIS SERVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES SET FORTH BY MARYLAND CHILD ABUSE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, AS WELL AS THE ACCREDITATION STANDARDS OF THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE, A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT CREATES BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS AND PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES TO THE NATION'S MORE THAN 900 CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS.IN FISCAL YEAR 2020, BCAC'S MEDICAL TEAM CONDUCTED 706 MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR CHILDREN AT BCAC'S ON-SITE MEDICAL CLINIC. IN ADDITION TO CONDUCTING 135 FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMS IN CASES OF SUSPECTED CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, BCAC ALSO PROVIDED 571 INITIAL MEDICAL SCREENINGS FOR CHILDREN ENTERING STATE SPONSORED FOSTER CARE. PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE ON-SITE FURTHERS BCAC'S GOAL OF CREATING A CHILD-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT AND STREAMLINED CARE BY ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR CLIENTS TO MAKE A SEPARATE APPOINTMENT AT A HOSPITAL OR PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE.BCAC'S FAMILY ADVOCACY TEAM PROVIDES ONGOING FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FAMILIES, INCLUDING HOME, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY VISITS, COURT SUPPORT, AND ASSISTANCE IN ACCESSING FOOD, HOUSING, EDUCATIONAL, LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, AND REFERRALS FOR ONGOING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. IN FISCAL YEAR 2020, THE FAMILY ADVOCATES CONDUCTED OVER 2500 SESSIONS FOR 1253 CLIENTS AND FACILITATED OVER 100 VISITS WITH CHILDREN AND THE FACILITY DOG WHILE ON SITE. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICESIN FISCAL YEAR 2020, THERAPISTS AT BCAC'S MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC SAW 137 CLIENTS IN AN ESTIMATED 1,444 SESSIONS. OF THESE CLIENTS, APPROXIMATELY 11% RECEIVED SERVICES IN SPANISH FROM BILINGUAL STAFF. AN ADDITIONAL 9 CLIENTS RECEIVED MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE JUVENILE MISSING PERSONS PROGRAM. BCAC PROVIDED 6 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH CRISIS COUNSELING AND 187 PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS RETURNED TO BCAC TO PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS SUPPORT GROUPS. IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, MANY SESSIONS WERE CONVERTED TO TELE-MENTAL HEALTH SESSIONS. BETWEEN MARCH-JUNE 2020, 182 SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED IN THIS MANNER.TRAINING, PREVENTION & OUTREACHBCAC TRAINED PROFESSIONALS AND PARENTS/CAREGIVERS FROM MARYLAND, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND FROM AROUND THE WORLD. APPROXIMATELY 120 TRAININGS WERE HELD WITH OVER 10,000 ATTENDEES. BCAC ALSO EDUCATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM, EXPANDING TO NEARLY 4,500 FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS. TRAINING TOPICS INCLUDED MANDATED REPORTER TRAINING, PROTECTING KIDS' MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE PANDEMIC, HOW TO CREATE A TRAUMA-RESPONSIVE VIRTUAL SPACE, AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE ABUSE REMOTELY. 81 YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THE YOUTH MENTORING/SUPPORT PROGRAMS. TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY DURING THE PANDEMIC A VIRTUAL RESOURCE FAIR WAS HELD TO CONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS ONLINE WITH OVER 30 OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. CLOTHING, FOOD, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVES FOR COMMUNITY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WERE HELD AND VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS WERE CONDUCTED SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILDREN TO ASSIST THEM WITH COPING DURING THE PANDEMIC. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND LEGAL SERVICES:IN FY 2018, BCAC WAS ABLE TO EXPAND ITS CAPACITY WITH THE ADDITION OF A DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND LEGAL SERVICES. THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR HAS FOLLOWED AND TRACKED NUMEROUS BILLS, TESTIFIED AT 14 HEARINGS, ORGANIZED SEVERAL PANELS OF SPEAKERS TO TESTIFY, FOSTERED RELATIONSHIPS WITH LEADERS FROM CITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, AND CONTINUOUSLY WORKS ON EXPANDING BCAC'S PRESENCE STATEWIDE. IN FY 2019, THE DIRECTOR LAUNCHED A LEGAL SERVICE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE LEGAL COUNSELING AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO BCAC CLIENTS. IN FY 2020 THE LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM ASSISTED 48 CLIENTS