The West Virginia Child Advocacy Network (WVCAN) kicked off a new campaign to raise awareness and funds for the 21 Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) across the state, including our local CAC the Child and Youth Advocacy Center (CYAC). The #High5Drive asks individuals and businesses to give a High 5 and donate $5 for each child served at West Virginia CACs last year. In the fiscal year 2022, 4,703 brave WV kids walked through the doors of a CAC following allegations of sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect.
A CAC provides a safe, child-friendly facility where child protection, criminal justice, and child treatment professionals work together to investigate abuse, hold offenders accountable, and help children heal.
Locally, the Child and Youth Advocacy Center is partnering with Manic Espresso, Herman’s Safety Products, and City National Bank (Greenbrier County Branches). These businesses are official campaign site partners where they’ll display the hands representing children served at the CYAC. Folks can visit a campaign site partner to get their #High5Drive handprint and share a message of encouragement for these kids, or write their name, or the name of a loved one.
“We are so excited for the #High5Drive Campaign! It will be a great visual representation of the number of brave kids we served last year and showcase the community support for child survivors of abuse. We are so thankful for our local sponsors and hope everyone can visit and pledge a high 5 in support of our local kids and families seeking healing and justice.”—Francesca Zarcone, CYAC Interim Executive Director
