Sunflower House

Programs: Child assessment program: sunflower house's child assessment program is focused on ensuring that victims of child abuse and their families receive their best chance at justice and healing. The program works toward this goal by coordinating a collaborative response to child sexual or physical abuse allegations, including law enforcement, child protection workers, medical and mental health providers, victim advocates, and prosecutors. Once a child in johnson or wyandotte counties makes a disclosure of abuse and it is reported to local child protection services or law enforcement, a referral is made to sunflower house. Our interview specialists conduct child-sensitive interviews of alleged child victims using proven forensic practices. Sunflower house coordinates specialized medical examinations by forensic medical providers, and mental health therapy, available onsite through a contract with paces, a local mental health provider, or other qualified trauma-focused therapists in the community. Additionally, the families receive advocacy and support services from sunflower house family advocates for as long as needed. From july 2016 to june 2017, sunflower house conducted 528 interviews for 474 children, 391 caregivers were given family advocacy services, and 136 children received therapy at sunflower house. In addition, sunflower house interviewer specialists prepared for 42 cases, attended 32 and testified in 21 court hearings during these six months.

education program: sunflower house partners with more than 175 johnson and wyandotte county schools and preschools to provide personal safety and sexual abuse prevention programs. Our flagship program, the happy bear play, teaches 4-7 year olds to recognize, resist and report child abuse to a trusted adult. Let's talk, think first and stay safe, let's cyberchat, and abusive head trauma are offered to elementary, middle school and high school youth and teach age-appropriate personal safety at ages when children are most vulnerable to sexual abuse. Professionals are taught their legal mandated reporter responsibilities, how to recognize the signs of maltreatment, and reporting processes. Other programs offered to adults in the community included keeping kids safe online and stewards of children. From july 2016 to june 2017, 17,091 children and 5,431 professionals and other adults were educated about child abuse prevention.