Florida Blue partners with Child Advocacy Center to provide critical services to vulnerable children

Left to right:
Therapy Dog Elliot; Leslie Florence, Florida Blue; Kristi Aiello, Florida Blue; Laura Clark, Child Advocacy Center; Kate Campbell, Florida Blue; Therapy Dog Oliver

Press release from Child Advocacy Center

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) team hosted members of Florida Blue leadership to thank them for their generous donation that will benefit children and families in the community. They toured the organization’s facilities and met dedicated staff members, including CAC therapy dogs Oliver and Elliot.

“At Florida Blue, our mission is to help people and communities achieve better health, and we believe that a safe and nurturing environment is essential to achieving that goal,” said Kristi Aiello, Senior Director Regional Business Development. “That’s why we are proud to support the Child Advocacy Center and the great work they do. By supporting their collaborative approach to care, we’re helping to ensure that vulnerable children receive the support and services they need to heal and thrive. The facility and dedication of the staff is truly impressive!”

The donation from the Florida Blue Foundation will directly support the CAC and its mission to break the cycle of child abuse in Alachua County. Since its inception in 1999, the CAC has made tremendous strides in creating a compassionate community where children and families are supported as they heal from trauma and violence. We strongly believe that every child deserves a safe and happy childhood. As members of our community, we recognize the importance for all of us to work together to break the cycle of child abuse and improve outcomes for child victims and their families.

“We are deeply grateful to the Florida Blue Foundation for their generous donation and commitment to supporting the critical work of the Child Advocacy Center,” said Sherry Kitchens, CEO of the CAC. “Their investment in our organization will have a direct impact on the lives of thousands of children and families in Alachua County, providing them with the support and services they need to heal and thrive.” 

In 2023, the CAC served 3,784 children and caregivers. Of those, 56 were child sex trafficking cases, 786 were physical abuse cases, 1,012 were sexual abuse cases, and 167 required a specialized forensic interview — all right here in Alachua County. Unfortunately, the CAC has seen an increase in children needing protection due to the severity of the abuse they have experienced since the beginning of the pandemic. This means the need for CAC services are more critical than ever before. 

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