Board members of the Child Advocacy Center of Bristol County advisory board were on hand at a news conference on January 25, 2007, at the Cherry & Webb building in downtown Fall River to announce funding of $187,000 for the construction of a new interview facility. When completed this coming summer, the 2,500 square foot facility will provide interview space with an adjoining observation room for Bristol County victims of abuse to testify. An adjoining medical examination facility will permit the entire process to take place in one facility. Victims currently have to travel to Boston or Providence. Bristol County is the only one in Massachusetts without such a facility.. An announcement about the facility was made at a conference on child abuse treatment and prevention sponsored by the Greater Fall River Child Protection Council held last November at St. Anne's Hospital. Click here for the Herald News article about the event. Click here for the Standard-Times article.
 

(Top row, left) Senator Joan Menard chats with Michelle Loranger Cruise, executive director of the Child Advocacy Center of Bristol County and Leslie Knowles, president of the Advocacy Center advisory board before the announcement. (Top row, center) Ms. Knowles credits the hard work of the board in making the center a reality. (Top row, right) Executive Director Cruise described the process that resulted in the center's funding as Police Chief John M. Souza listens. (Middle row, left) Newly-elected District Attorney Sam Sutter spoke about the impact that child abuse has on families and applauded the new facility as a critical tool in stopping abuse. (Middle row, center) State Representative David Sullivan applauds Senator Joan Menard as she presents a "check" for $187,000 to Ms. Cruise. (Middle row, right) New Bedford Police Capt. Richard M. Spirlet speaks on behalf of Police Chief Ronald E. Teachman at the news conference. (Bottom row, left) Construction contractor John Doherty describes progress on construction of the facility to Ms. Cruise. (Bottom row, right) Assistant District Attorney Silvia Rudman looks over plans for the new facility with Len Baxendale, an advocacy center board member from Attleboro.