MEDIA CONTACT Pam Karalunas 907-688-0163 [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALASKA CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE EARNS ACCREDITATION FROM NATIONAL CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE National Children’s Alliance recognizes Alaska Children’s Alliance for its delivery of high quality and effective services to child abuse victims through accreditation The Alaska Children’s Alliance (ACA) has been awarded State Chapter Accreditation by National Children’s Alliance following an extensive application and site review process. Accreditation is the highest level of membership with National Children’s Alliance and denotes excellence in service provision. As an accredited State Chapter, ACA has been recognized for providing Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) and Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs) with the resources they need to consistently offer unique and vital services to child victims of abuse and their families; and for serving as the voice for all CACs in Alaska. Founded in 2004, the mission of Alaska Children’s Alliance is to promote a culturally appropriate multidisciplinary response to child maltreatment throughout Alaska. Alaska Children’s Alliance membership consists of all of the child advocacy centers, as well as “friends of CACs.” The CACs are Alaska CARES in Anchorage, Irniamta Ikayurviat in Bethel, Copper River Basin CAC, Nitaput Child Advocacy Center in Dillingham, RCPC Stevie’s Place in Fairbanks, S.A.F.E. CAC in Juneau, Haven House CAC in Homer, Central Peninsula CAC in Kenai, Seward Child Advocacy Center, The Children’s Place in Mat-Su and Kawerak CAC in Nome. National Children’s Alliance awards Accredited Membership based on a Chapter’s compliance with three national standards of accreditation to ensure effective, efficient and consistent delivery of services to CACs and Multidisciplinary Teams (MDT) within their respective states. National Children’s Alliance developed and implemented these standards in 2008. There are currently 48 State and Native American Chapters operating across the nation. “As an organization dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of the CAC model in Alaska, we recognize the importance of accreditation from National Children’s Alliance and supporting the MDT approach. Accreditation not only validates our organization’s proven effective approach to support of local centers responding to allegations of child abuse, but also contributes to consistency across the child advocacy center movement as a whole,” said Pam Karalunas, Chapter Coordinator “Alaska Children’s Alliance is to be commended for its excellent work providing a statewide network supporting the continued work of local CACs and MDTs ensuring effective treatment for child victims throughout Alaska. As the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers and State Chapters across the country, our goal is to ensure that every victim of child abuse has access to high quality services that result from professional collaboration – and that every CAC receives relevant, timely support services from their State Chapter to continue this important work,” remarked Teresa Huizar, Executive Director of National Children’s Alliance. For more information about Alaska Children’s Alliance visit www.akchildrensalliance.com ACA provides on-going training and technical assistance, including the biennial Alaska Child Maltreatment Conference: Respect & Protect scheduled for October 22-24. ACA’s current projects include the National Children’s Alliance Outcome Measurement System Pilot Project, Honoring Protecting & Nurturing Our Children, a Copper River Basin Community Outreach Program and Improving Services to Child Victim, an I.H.S. funded project. National Children’s Alliance is the national association and accrediting body for the over 700 children’s advocacy centers serving each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Dedicated to helping local communities respond to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient, and put the needs of child victims of abuse first, National Children’s Alliance provides support and advocacy to its accredited membership, as well as numerous developing centers, multidisciplinary teams and child abuse professionals around the country, and the world. As the national authority on multidisciplinary approaches to supporting child victims of abuse, the purpose of National Children’s Alliance is to empower local communities to provide comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate services to victims of child abuse. Founded in 1998, National Children’s Alliance provides accreditation opportunities, financial assistance, training, technical assistance, research and education to communities, child abuse professionals and children’s advocacy centers throughout the United States in support of child abuse intervention, advocacy and prevention. www.nationalchildrensalliance.org