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Liberty House awarded $50,000 grant from Salem Health to Support Child Abuse Assessment Services in Polk County

February 12, 2018

Liberty House is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $50,000 Community Partnership Grant from Salem Health. Grant funds will support medical evaluations for children in Polk County referred for concerns of abuse or neglect. Liberty House will use the funds to make these medical assessments available in Polk County, making it easier for children to get the specialized, life-saving help they need in a location that is closer to home.

Currently, to be seen at Liberty House, children from Polk County must travel to Salem. The time and distance involved create significant barriers for the children and their families. This grant will meet a critical, top-priority need.

"We are deeply grateful for this incredibly generous grant from Salem Health. This is an investment in children that will save lives and help children get specialized, critical medical assessment when they need it," said Alison Kelley, Liberty House CEO.

Liberty House is a community assessment center (ORS 418.782) and provides medical assessment, interviewing, counseling and support for children referred for concerns of abuse, neglect, trauma or grief, serving over 600 children and families each year from Marion and Polk counties. Liberty House offers a child-friendly environment that allows children to be seen by a provider with expertise in child abuse, and to feel safe during the process of answering questions from investigators who are responding to concerns of abuse.

"Offering services in Polk County will make things much easier for our law enforcement and child protective services partners who work so hard to help children be safe. Coordination of services helps to reduce trauma for children," added Kelley.

Salem Health has long understood the critical needs in Polk County.

"Marion and Polk counties are fortunate to have many wonderful non-profit organizations doing important work and the Community Partner Grants allow us to work together, which is much more powerful than trying to go it alone," said Leilani Slama, vice president of community engagement at Salem Health. "Liberty House's project will protect vulnerable children and get them the help they need."

Community Partnership Grant funding encourages innovative collaboration and engagement among community organizations that share a common vision for better health and meet community health needs identified by the Salem Health Board of Trustees. The total Community Partnership Grant funds to be granted in 2018 is approximately $285,000. Current priorities for projects include obesity prevention, tobacco and substance use cessation and early childhood health.

About Salem Health: Salem Health offers exceptional care to people in and around Oregon's mid-Willamette Valley. It comprises hospitals in Salem and Dallas, a medical group of primary and specialty care providers, plus other affiliated services. Visit us at www.salemhealth.org; "Like" them on www.facebook.com/salemhealth; follow them on Twitter: @salemhealth; and view them at www.youtube.com/salemhealth.

Contact Info:
More information: Salem Health media relations, available 24/7 at 971-718-3157.
 

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