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April 15, 2007 For immediate release Foothills Alliance has received the keys to a dream – a 5200 square-foot building to be used for child sexual abuse treatment services and child abuse prevention programs. AnMed Health President John Miller handed over the keys to 218 E. Calhoun Street, next door to the Foothills Alliance headquarters building, on Monday to Fay Brown, executive director and chief professional officer at the Alliance. Officials of the non-profit agency and the AnMed Health gathered to seal the partnership. "We are donating the building for Foothills Alliance to use for as long as they need it," Mr. Miller said. "They work very hard to improve the quality of life for a vulnerable segment of our community, and we support them in their efforts. At AnMed, we believe this is an outstanding partnership, and by providing the building to Foothills we are enhancing the mission of AnMed Health by helping an underserved population." The Alliance will move its Foothills Child Advocacy Center and Prevent Child Abuse programs into the building that formerly housed AnMed Health’s Pediatric Therapy Works. Foothills Alliance’s Child Advocacy Center opened in September 2003 in a 2,000 square-foot house donated by Mountain Creek Baptist Church on Highway 29 South. The facility has served more than 500 children and their families in its first four years. As the number of clients has quadrupled in four years and the number of free services increased, the current facility had become inadequate. The center provides free forensic medical examinations and forensic interviews to sexually abused children, long-term therapy, court advocacy, and follow up for both the children and their families. Many clients are served for well over a year, and in some cases, services continue for more than three years. Prevent Child Abuse (PCA) programs of Foothills Alliance have grown to include 10 parent support and child enrichment groups that meet weekly throughout Anderson County, serving more than 500 adults and children in 2006. PCA sponsors community awareness and education programs throughout the county. PCA services will move from a small single office in the current Foothills Alliance building to a large office and several meeting rooms in the new building. "AnMed has fulfilled a tremendous need that will serve us for many years to come," said Ms. Brown. "Our priority is always to serve children as efficiently and professionally as possible, maintaining confidentially for all clients. It had become increasingly difficult in recent months to serve clients in a confidential manner due to the limitations in a facility we had outgrown. AnMed has removed the concern about our future capabilities.” With the addition of the new building to the Alliance, all services of the agency will be provided in adjacent buildings sharing a common parking lot, a "perfect" solution, said Ms. Brown. |
This website is not meant to be used in lieu of counseling or other professional guidance. This site is for informational and educational use only. To speak with a Foothills Alliance representative, please call (800) 585-8952. Website designed and maintained by Dian Hall. |
