Mayor Oda announced at the September 6, 2022, City Council meeting that Troy will contribute $5,000 to support the startup costs of a proposed Child Advocacy Center (CAC) at Isaiah’s Place in 2023. Isaiah's Place is a faith-based non-profit agency in Troy, which trains foster parents and provides child abuse case management to children from over 20 counties across southwest Ohio.
Isaiah’s Place Program Director Jennifer Knisley and Development Director Robby Lybarger presented information on the new CAC, including its goal to create a coordinated, multidisciplinary response to child abuse cases in Miami County, while bringing together child protective services agencies, law enforcement, victim assistance workers, prosecutors, medical professionals, and social workers. By having a central location for all of these agencies to collaborate, the CAC aims to make investigations easier on victims and families, allowing for a more effective, child-friendly, and compassionate response. The CAC will also provide training for law enforcement and school resource officers.
“Since May, we've been meeting as a multi-disciplinary team, including every law enforcement agency in Miami County, our prosecutor's office, our victim witness division, the child abuse pediatrician from Dayton Children's Hospital, and members of our mental health team to build this center’s protocol and response,” said Mrs. Knisley.
Mayor Oda shared that she approved $5,000 toward the Center after consulting with City staff, stating, “It’s a sad reality that we need this kind of service for children, but it is indeed a much-needed service. Isaiah’s Place is doing some amazing work, and I’m happy that we can help get this launched.”