Cuyahoga County - Cuyahoga County’s Witness Victim Services is launching a local chapter of Camp HOPE America, which is the first evidence-based camping and mentoring initiative in the United States to focus on children exposed to domestic violence. Camp HOPE America is focused on collaborative, trauma-informed, and hope-centered pathways for trauma-exposed kids to believe in themselves, in others, and in their dreams.
Because Cuyahoga County has a long history of establishing successful initiatives to prevent childhood exposure to violence and to identify and assist children and families who have been impacted by violence, Cuyahoga County’s Witness Victim Services was awarded grant funding from Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). This funding will be used to implement the Camp HOPE America model for Cuyahoga County children, ages 9-11 years old, who have been impacted by violence and trauma. Witness Victim Services and FrontLine Service, a local behavioral health agency, will work together to plan and implement camp programming.
On August 04, 2019, Witness Victim Services will launch and work in partnership with Camp Ho Mita Koda, in Newbury, Ohio, to operate a five-night residential summer camp experience for children impacted by the generational cycles of violence and trauma. Camp HOPE is open to children receiving services through the FrontLine Service Trauma Program:
“Through no fault of their own, too many kids are exposed to and impacted by violence,” said County Executive Armond Budish. “Camp HOPE is a proven program to reverse or limit the damage of those experiences and help our children be resilient and to rise above their experience.”
If you or anyone you know has suffered from acts of domestic violence, sexual assault or experienced any other types of victimization, please call the Cuyahoga County Family Justice Center at 216.443.7345. If it is an emergency, you should call 9-1-1.
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