NEVADA, MO.--- Jeanie Longstreth says there's a bigger need to protect the identity of Nevada Children's Center clients.
"We have privacy here, but not to the extent we need. We need more," said Jeanie Longstreth, Nevada Children's Center.
Longstreth is a forensic interviewer. She talks to children from Vernon, Barton, Dade, and Cedar counties who may have been abused. The center is very close to the Nevada square and they want to move.
"There's a lot of development ,a lot of business in the square. We'd like to put it in more of a residential area," states Graham Burnley, Nevada Police Chief.
Both the Nevada and Lamar police chiefs serve on the advisory board for the facility.
"We observe the interview, record the interview and the child is done then, then we carry on the investigation," states Ron Hager, Lamar Police Chief.
Law enforcement and others watch the interview in a separate room. They have to identify if the sound is coming from the talking room or outside. They say there's an issue with soundproofing.
"The walls, they are like paper thin. When they are doing the interview, you aren't sure if you're hearing over the television or if it's coming through the wall," says Chief Hager.
Because of these factors, center advocates want to move out of the 800 square foot facility and into one that is about 2,000 square feet.
"Our hope is to raise some funds to help the Children's Center move into a permanent home, either build them a new one or buy one," states Chief Burnley.
They need to raise $150,000 to do this. It's something they believe is doable to ensure more privacy for families and children.
"We keep our blinds down when we have families in, but there's still so much public access and knowledge," says Longstreth. Center leaders plan to give presentations to various community groups in their fundraising effort. If you would like to make a donation, click here.
"We have privacy here, but not to the extent we need. We need more," said Jeanie Longstreth, Nevada Children's Center.
Longstreth is a forensic interviewer. She talks to children from Vernon, Barton, Dade, and Cedar counties who may have been abused. The center is very close to the Nevada square and they want to move.
"There's a lot of development ,a lot of business in the square. We'd like to put it in more of a residential area," states Graham Burnley, Nevada Police Chief.
Both the Nevada and Lamar police chiefs serve on the advisory board for the facility.
"We observe the interview, record the interview and the child is done then, then we carry on the investigation," states Ron Hager, Lamar Police Chief.
Law enforcement and others watch the interview in a separate room. They have to identify if the sound is coming from the talking room or outside. They say there's an issue with soundproofing.
"The walls, they are like paper thin. When they are doing the interview, you aren't sure if you're hearing over the television or if it's coming through the wall," says Chief Hager.
Because of these factors, center advocates want to move out of the 800 square foot facility and into one that is about 2,000 square feet.
"Our hope is to raise some funds to help the Children's Center move into a permanent home, either build them a new one or buy one," states Chief Burnley.
They need to raise $150,000 to do this. It's something they believe is doable to ensure more privacy for families and children.
"We keep our blinds down when we have families in, but there's still so much public access and knowledge," says Longstreth. Center leaders plan to give presentations to various community groups in their fundraising effort. If you would like to make a donation, click here.
