Wake County child abuse prevention organization breaks ground on new facility.
SAFEchild, the only nonprofit in Wake County to offer a wide range of free child abuse prevention and intervention services to families in need, is on a mission to triple its capacity over the next five years with its new 20,000-square-foot facility, which broke ground last month.
Already a safe haven for the local community, the nonprofit will be able to serve 1,200 more children in its advocacy center and 30,000 families with prevention programs each year thanks to this expanded outreach. And considering that over 7,000 cases of child abuse and neglect occur annually in Wake County, the impact is more than significant—it’s lifechanging.
“As Wake County continues its upward trajectory of economic growth, the need for supportive family services continues to increase too,” says SAFEchild Executive Director Cristin DeRonja. “We are thrilled to break ground on a facility that will multiply the number of families we serve and champion safe family environments.”
Celebrating its 30th year of operation, SAFEchild is financing the new facility—slated to welcome children and families starting in fall 2023—through the Champion Our Children campaign, which launched in conjunction with the groundbreaking and has already amassed donations from WakeMed Health & Hospitals, Wake County, the City of Raleigh and the Kim & Fielding Miller Family Foundation.
“We’re incredibly thankful for donors who recognize the need and deeply believe in equipping children and families with education, counseling, hope and other resources they deserve,” says DeRonja. “Launching the Champion Our Children campaign means individuals across the county can do their part to end child abuse in Wake County and ensure that every child feels safe.” Stay tuned to our upcoming issues and newsletter for updates on the opening!
