About Us

ABOUT “JESSIE'S PLACE”

Founded in August 2006, The Citrus County Children’s Advocacy Center, which would become known as “Jessie’s Place”, evolved from the grassroots efforts of dedicated local child advocates to better serve the community’s abused, neglected, and traumatized children.

With the goal of creating a Children’s Advocacy Center utilizing the nationally-proven model of a Multi-disciplinary approach to responding to cases of child maltreatment, the first official meeting was held in April 2005.

Countless volunteers and generous community members made the idea a reality when Jessie’s Place opened its doors for the first time in 2008.

Named in memory of Jessica Lunsford who was taken from us far too soon, this facility works to honor Jessie by protecting all children of Citrus County from violence, abuse, and neglect.

HOW DO WE HELP THE COMMUNITY?

Studies of communities which utilize Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) in child maltreatment investigations versus those that do not, found that CACs typically save communities approximately $1,000 per investigation. Results from that study show that traditional investigations were 36% more expensive than CAC investigations.

The average per-case cost:

CAC investigation: $2,902
Non-CAC investigation: $3,949

Over 400 children received investigative services at Jessie’s Place in 2016. According to this study, that is a savings of $400,000 for Citrus County Communities.

Our Mission

Jessie’s Place is a child advocacy center where investigative efforts of law enforcement and DCF are coordinated and supported with collaboration from community partners of multiple disciplines. In our child-friendly facility, abused and neglected children of Citrus County, Florida receive specialized forensic interviews and medical exams. The children and their families receive advocacy services and trauma-focused, evidence-based therapy to help heal the trauma and begin their journey to recovery. All services are provided free of charge.

Our Mission Statement

One Mission, under one roof… working together with our community to protect, serve, and advocate for children.

Our Programs

ADVOCACY SERVICES – Child victims of abuse and their families receive trauma-focused, evidence-based mental health therapy from licensed mental health counselors and social workers.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES – Child victims of abuse and their families receive on-going support, case management and advocacy services to assist them with navigating legal and government systems and obtaining necessary services.
WE HELP CHILDREN – When a child receives services at Jessie’s Place, it is with the purpose of alleviating the painful events in their life, and beginning their journey to recovery which allows them to feel like a child again.

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to coordinate services and support under one roof from such agencies as local law enforcement, therapists, medical staff, and Department of Children & Families (DCF), thus alleviating the need for multiple interviews by multiple adults in numerous locations. The children are brought into a caring and child-friendly building with all of the tools, multidisciplinary teams, professionals, and relaxing comfort needed to begin their journey of recovery back to a healthy, happy life.