After new requirements were enacted in Kentucky in 2024, Louisville, Kentucky-based Family and Children’s Place CAC made the difficult decision to vacate their CACs across the Ohio River in Jeffersonville and New Albany, Indiana. But not before handing the keys to Corydon-based Comfort House CAC. Now, Comfort House is re-opening — and preserving — a vital door to two new counties effective January 1, 2025.
“Family and Children’s Place did great work, and we are grateful they’re letting us move into their fully-furnished and equipped Centers. We knew we had to do something to preserve service for kids and families in Clark and Floyd counties,” says Donna Lloyd, Executive Director of Comfort House.
Starting January 1, 2025 Comfort House will operate both Jeffersonville and New Albany locations as satellite CACs under the Comfort House name. This means children who live in Clark or Floyd county can be scheduled for forensic interviews and other CAC services closer to their homes, reducing travel time and stress for them and their families. The addresses for both of the locations will remain the same, at 1 Quartermaster Court in Jeffersonville and 136 Cottom Ave., just south of Baptist Hospital, in New Albany.
“We’re going to work really hard to make sure everyone’s seen when they need service,” says Lloyd. “It’s important to us that there is no confusion or disruptions for law enforcement, prosecutors, caseworkers, and other multidisciplinary team members who, along with child victims of crime, need and deserve quick, efficient turnaround for forensic interviews and victim advocacy,” says Lloyd.
Aside from occasional courtesy interviews from surrounding counties, Comfort House has almost exclusively served Harrison County thanks to consistent, generous funding from Harrison County-based supporters. New funding sources will cover the cost of operating the new Clark and Floyd locations.
The team expects demand for both Clark and Floyd to be equal to or greater than Harrison County in 2025. Comfort House serves about 100-150 families a year in Harrison County.
“We’re growing our staff to meet the demand and look forward to working closely with new MDT members in Clark and Floyd counties,” says Lloyd. “The whole process has unfolded quickly, but we’re immensely grateful to be considered for operating these two CACs. We’d never been able to do it without Family and Children’s Place providing so much of the equipment and resources we need to continue services.”