Services

Services offered at WSCC

Our services include meeting the needs of sexually abused children by facilitating and coordinating the work of existing agencies such as the Mesa County District Attorney's Office, mental health providers, the medical community, the Mesa County Department of Human Services, and local law enforcement agencies, which include the Mesa County Sheriff's Office and the Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade Police Departments. We also provide services to out-of-county agencies as needed.
 
 
We offer:
  • Forensic Interviews
    A forensic interview is a first step in most child sexual abuse investigations, one in which a professional interviews a child to find out if he or she has been abused or neglected. A child's disclosure of abuse may be one of the most significant pieces of evidence in a child abuse investigation. Most perpetrators deny abusing their victims and since most crimes committed with children are not witnessed, prosecution can be very difficult. This is particularly true in suspected child abuse cases because most children do not have any physical signs that they were abused.
  • Two interview rooms designed for children
  • A waiting room for children and family members
  • Access to support services: law enforcement, medical, counseling and human services assistance.
  • Facilitated case coordination meetings
  • A resource library
  • A parent booklet
  • Education resources
  • Information and referral help
  • Assistance with how to report suspected acts of child abuse
  • Training for disciplines in handling child abuse cases
  • Coordinated services

The Western Slope Center for Children also provides:
  • A home-like atmosphere
  • A dramatic reduction in the number of interviews a victim must undergo
  • Forensic medical exams by a S.A.N.E (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) nurse
  • Consistent and fast follow-up to abuse reports
  • Consistent and compassionate support to the child and family
  • Coordination of efforts of professionals responsible for investigating and prosecuting the offense
  • Appropriate medical and mental health referrals