Help, Hope, Healing

It’s difficult to accept that child abuse happens here. But it does. And turning a blind eye feeds the trauma and allows it to continue. The only way to end child abuse is to not turn away. To not let children navigate the darkness alone. To walk with them, believe them, support them, fight for them, love them, help them, and uplift them. Because with each child we help heal, there’s hope for all.

Your Support Helps

Your generosity assists us in providing a safe haven and a healing journey for young victims of abuse. Please help make a child’s tomorrow better by giving today.

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About the Western Slope Center for Children

In Mesa County, well over 300 children a year are harmed by sexual abuse, physical abuse, and other forms of violence. And these are just the children who disclose their abuse to someone who can report—there are countless others who don’t. Abuse is a threat to the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of our children.

The Western Slope Center for Children (d.b.a. “The Center for Children”) was formed in the early 1990s as a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization by community members, officials, and other stakeholders dedicated to the ongoing protection and safety of children in the Grand Valley.

The Center for Children’s purpose is to facilitate and coordinate the work of existing governmental agencies and independent service providers to meet the needs of abused children. By its 25th anniversary, the agency had provided services to more than 20,000 child victims and their family members

The child advocacy center staff is comprised of individuals with specialized training in the field of child abuse & neglect. However, the work of disrupting child mistreatment in our community does not happen without effective communication and teamwork at the highest level with community partner agencies who are equally dedicated to changing children’s lives for the better.

The multidisciplinary team partners of The Center for Children include:

  • 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office
  • Fruita Police Department
  • Grand Junction Police Department
  • Mesa County Department of Human Services
  • Mesa County SANE Program
  • Mesa County Sheriff’s Office
  • Palisade Police Department

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Making A Difference

Total number of children served in the organization’s history

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Percentage of cases seen for sexual abuse concerns in 2023

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Number of children expected to be sexually abused before their 18th birthday

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Percentage of children who know and have some relationship with their alleged offender

Successful convictions of offenders in child sex abuse cases in 2023

CAC work supported by: