Goals
The goals of the Meadowlark House are designed to:
Provide a safe, non-threatening environment where investigative interviews of victims of abuse and neglect are conducted. Develop a multidisciplinary approach to the investigation of abuse and neglect which reduces trauma to victims and families. Promote a network of communication between community agencies involved in evaluating, investig
ating, protecting and treating victims of abuse. Promote education and awareness of abuse and neglect in the community. Coordinate and track investigative and prosecutorial efforts in order to obtain information useful for criminal and civil proceedings. Purpose
Meadowlark House provides a multidisciplinary approach to child abuse and neglect with a special emphasis on child sexual abuse. This approach is based on an agreement between the offices of the Meadowlark House CAC, the county attorneys' offices in multiple jurisdictions, Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF), mental health centers, multiple law enforcement jurisdictions, school professionals, and area medical professionals. Meadowlark House integrates the various approaches of these agencies' services in order to provide a comprehensive response that best meets the needs of child abuse victims and their families or care providers while also preventing duplication of agency efforts. Interviews at Meadowlark House are available for victims and witnesses of sexual abuse who are two and a half years of age and older. Select cases involving serious physical abuse, other forms of abuse and neglect, or involving other crimes are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Meadowlark House promotes and facilitates community awareness, prevention and education on child abuse with special emphasis on child sexual abuse. The Meadowlark House serves the counties of Ford, Hodgeman, Gray, Edwards, Comanche, Kiowa, Meade, and Clark in Southwest Kansas.
