The Bridge goes digital and completes expansion project

The Bridge’s capital expansion campaign entitled, Building a Stronger Bridge for a Brighter Tomorrow, has been completed. The Center located at 804 Quail Creek, Amarillo, has finalized construction and will host an open house on Thursday, December 12, 2013 from 4-6 p.m.

In January 2012, The Bridge embarked on a capital campaign in order to expand the existing facility, adding new offices, and a brand new Education Conference Center. This goal was initiated through a strategic plan which involved the board, staff and representatives from partner agencies. In May 2013, funding of the more than $600,000 project was complete. The renovation added approximately 1800 square feet to the existing building and a garage to house vehicles used in rural travel.

“We are excited to have completed construction of our project and show the community our new Education Conference Center. We are grateful to everyone that has supported us in our efforts,” Says April Leming, Executive Director of The Bridge. Major contributors to the project include: Amarillo Area Foundation, Dr. Kent Roberts and Ilene Balliett Foundation, C.J. and Syble Fowlston Charitable Trust, Gilliland Family Foundation, Mary E. Bivins Foundation, High Plains Christian Ministries Foundation, Josephine Anderson Charitable Trust, The J.E. and L. E. Mabee, Mays Foundation, Meadows Foundation, several anonymous donors, individual donors and the board and staff of The Bridge.

Also new at The Bridge, is a digital upgrade of its forensic interview equipment. The upgrade has been made to each location of The Bridge and to mobile interview equipment used in rural areas. The Bridge’s main location is in Amarillo and has satellite offices in Pampa, Dumas and Hereford. The improvement of this mobile forensic technology will go a long way to help underserved child victims of abuse in our area,” said Leming. “We are grateful to the Governor’s Office and Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas (CACTX) for providing the resources that will significantly increase the availability of services and resources for underserved children and families who have been victimized by sexual abuse.”

Law enforcement, prosecution and Child Protective Services across the state rely on trained staff at children’s advocacy centers (CACs) to conduct forensic interviews of suspected child victims and witnesses. CAC forensic interviewers are professionally trained to interview children about their experience in a non-leading, legally defensible manner. This interview is digitally recorded and often becomes a key piece of evidence in these difficult cases. Traditionally, interviews are conducted onsite at a local CAC. These facilities provide a neutral, child-focused environment which can lessen the trauma to victims and families.

Unfortunately, some suspected child victims are unable to travel to our center due to geographic distance and/or hospitalization. The use of mobile forensic interview equipment alleviates such barriers by allowing investigators and interviewers to travel to the child. The equipment package includes a video camera, a specially-equipped laptop and microphone.

The Bridge CAC in Amarillo is no stranger to having to cover a large territory with one full facility and three satellite offices. The Bridge covers 26 Texas counties with a staff of 10. This equipment will bring the technology to the 21st century, allowing interviews to be recorded digitally.

The Bridge (www.bridgecac.org) was the first children’s advocacy center in the state of Texas, opening its doors in 1989. The Bridge started utilizing mobile forensic interview (MFI) equipment in 1995; however this equipment required heavy lifting and a large vehicle to transport. In 1996, The Bridge went to Amarillo Media Systems to look for a better solution and they were able to deliver developing a concept that is still utilized today but has made advancements in the recording process through the years. Through the use of MFI equipment, The Bridge has been able to reach more victims who cannot travel to one of their facilities due to distance or other circumstances. This method has been proven to be a creative and efficient way to deliver high quality services to children in all 26 counties.

Since that time, the Bridge has provided services to more than 20,000 children who have been victims or witnesses of crime in the Texas Panhandle. In 2012, the Bridge interviewed 1,038 children in the Texas Panhandle, and provided community education to more than 3,000 adults and safety education programs to more than 700 children, ages 5-10. The Bridge strives to bring a comprehensive approach to child abuse investigation, facilitating communication among 72 partner agencies in the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle. Our Mission is: To Provide a Child’s Path to Healing and Justice.