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 Agency Profile

The Kids' FIRST Center opened its doors in September of 1994 as a free standing, private non-profit organization with a board of directors under the direct supervision of the Lane County District Attorney’s Office.  The purpose of the Center is to help lessen the trauma experienced by abused children going through the judicial process. 

The Center provides a central location for the investigation of child abuse cases, eliminating the need for a child to give a statement at the police  station, then go to a doctor’s office, etc.  We offer a warm, non-threatening environment where specially-trained interviewers take videotaped statements from children to gather information and evidence about their experiences.  We also house facilities for medical follow-up and host Lane County’s grand juries for child abuse cases.

The Kids' FIRST Center is funded solely by grants and private donations.  Accordingly, our paid staff is small, and we rely heavily volunteers to provide direct services to victims.  Volunteers advocate for child victims and their non-offending family members, providing them with referrals to community agencies to meet their legal, financial, physical and mental health needs.  Volunteers inform and educate families about the criminal justice process, provide case management and keep families updated on the status of their cases.  Volunteers also provide childcare for parents and guardians attending the Center's education and support group, perform data entry and statistical analysis, offer office and clerical support and much, much more.

Do You Know?

• Sexual abuse may or may not involve physical contact.  It is any act that engages a child in an activity for sexual purposes.
• Sexual abuse doesn’t discriminate.  Any family, individual, economic class, ethnic group or religion can be affected.
• Most sexually abused children are victimized by someone they know.
• Sexual abuse is a crime, no matter what the relationship between the offender and victim.
• Sexual abuse often continues because of insistence on secrecy through coercion or intimidation; or because of threats, bribes, or the unequal power between the offender and child.
• A child may not be able to tell parents directly about abuse.  (S)he may fear disbelief, punishment or family break-up, and may feel shame or a desire to protect the abuser, if that person is someone (s)he knows and trusts.
• CHILDREN SELDOM LIE ABOUT SEXUAL ABUSE!