Carehouse outgrows facility, needs cash

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - A fundraising campaign is now underway in Montgomery County to raise $2.1 million to build a new, state-of-the-art facility to serve child abuse victims.

The current facility, Carehouse, is Montgomery County's Child Advocacy Center.  It helped more than 600 of our communities most vulnerable last year, but has outgrown is current home.

"The needs of the children go way beyond the initial interview and try to help heal what is, of course, an awful and often unspeakable situation.  So, the building will provide the setting to begin the healing for our children," said Deborah Feldman, CEO of Dayton Children's.

The facility will hopefully be built down the street from its current location on Valley Street, near Dayton Children's Medical Center.

"A large part of that caseload comes through the City of Dayton, so the children who are victims of crime are very  much benefited by services offered. They provide service, care that they deserve as crime victims," said Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl.

Chief Biehl, Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck and Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer all came together Wednesday to donate $200,000 to push the project through.

"What we are doing is reusing the criminals dollars, their assets to be part of the solution to problems in the community.  So we're happy to donate to this great program.  They do great work in our community for our kids and you know our kids are our future leaders, so we're behind them 100%," said Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer.

The project is set to break ground in March.

"We certainly see the effect that child abuse has on our community and communities all over the country," said Montgomery County Prosecutor, Mat Heck.

It is not too late to make a donation to the construction of the new Carehouse.  Call Dayton Children's Development staff at 641-3405.