 | Children’s Advocacy Center 2855 Michigan St NE Grand Rapids, MI 49506 616.336.5160 © 2024 Copyright - Children's Advocacy Center of Kent County - Privacy Policy |
At the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all, because we know that child sexual abuse happens despite a child’s demographics. We embrace individuals of diverse gender identities, sexual orientations, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, languages spoken, and cultures. Our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion is at the core of our mission.
Within the Center, we uphold a culture of respect and honor for every individual, recognizing the importance of providing a healing path that aligns with their unique identity and values. To ensure inclusivity, we offer support such as translation services and disability accommodations as needed for both clients and their caregivers. We also address immediate needs and remove potential barriers to healing.
At the Center, we maintain a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination or harassment among our staff, board, partner agencies, clients, and visitors. We understand that creating and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment requires continuous education and awareness. We actively seek to understand and address injustices related to our mission within our community and beyond.
At the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County, our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is actively practiced through various initiatives:
- Global Capacity Building Committee (GCBC): Our staff-driven GCBC conducts learning sessions, enhancing their understanding of diverse perspectives and the lived-experiences of families in Kent County.
- Board Development: Board members engage in diversity, equity, and inclusion training, to inform policy and Center decision-making.
- Community Partnerships: We actively cultivate strong partnerships with agencies and organizations in our community that are committed to meeting the diverse needs of the individuals we may mutually serve.
By prioritizing these principles, we aim to provide an accessible environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and valued for who they are.
Land Acknowledgement:
The Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County is located on the ancestral homelands of the Peoria and Odawa tribes. The Council of the Three Fires (Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa) members have also resided here. As part of our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging we wish to honor and preserve the history of the members and the land.
