By By Lisa Tindell – news editor
More than 40 citizens gathered on the lawn of the Escambia County Regional Child Advocacy Center Monday to witness the unveiling of the facilities new identity.
Signage at the Evergreen Avenue center now shows the center as being known as the Kathy Hill Child Advocacy Center.
Hill, along with other members of the community, founded the Center in 2002 in an effort to facilitate and support the multi-disciplinary team approach to the investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse, severe physical abuse and neglect, Jackson said.
Among those in attendance at the celebration and dedication were more than 20 family members and officials from Hope Place, the Escambia County District Attorney's office and members of the staff at the new Kathy Hill Child Advocacy Center.
The Escambia County Regional Child Advocacy Center works to ensure that victims of sexual and physical abuse receive the medical and legal services needed to enable them to recover. The center also works with area mental health agencies, medical officials and support groups to help victims receive immediate and long-term care. Center officials will also aid area law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to make sure abusers are punished and don't commit additional offenses.