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Center for abused kids gets grant for expansion By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune Even as construction continues on a long-awaited addition to the Children's Advocacy Center in Medford, the agency for sexually abused youngsters has received funding for further expansion. A $206,000 grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust will pay for purchase and safety renovations of a house at 128 Mistletoe St., next door to the existing center, outreach coordinator Carrie Hanson said Monday. The grant from the Portland-based trust was announced last month. When complete, the 2,366-square-foot house will serve as the intake hub for the center, which serves nearly 600 children annually. "We're trying to separate the three services of the center," Hanson said, citing intake, administration and medical/therapy components. "This means that as a regional center, we'll have the space to serve clients better." The Meyer grant will pay for purchase of the Mistletoe property, which has a real market value of $152,080, Jackson County records show. It also provides about $40,000 for removal of lead paint and asbestos. Total renovation costs will top $445,000, Hanson said. That means the agency will have to raise the remaining funds for the three-year project. "I think it's going to be a big challenge, but I'm confident we can do it," Hanson said. The site eventually will include private interview rooms, separate interview rooms for families and space for the Jackson County Grand Jury to meet, she said. It will alleviate concerns about privacy and security at the existing 4,000-square-foot center. "Even though confidentiality is safe, children feel like people are walking through their space," she said. The Mistletoe property will be in addition to a 4,000-square-foot expansion now under construction on a lot off Newtown Street. That site will house medical examination and therapy rooms, as well as a training center. The nearly $580,000 project should be complete by mid-summer. The Children's Advocacy Center has evolved to become the regional clearinghouse for services for sexually abused children and their families in five counties. Located at 816 W. 10th St., it provides medical exams, law enforcement interviews, therapy and other resources. For more information, contact Hanson or director Jane Hamilton at 734-5437. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.