Key community partners recently announced they will work together to establish a center to coordinate the investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse cases. SAFE, Inc., the Wilkes Department of Social Services, the 23rd District Attorney’s office and all three local law enforcement agencies signed a letter of commitment to support the development, implementation and operation of an accredited child advocacy center in Wilkes County. The agreement, signed Nov. 17 in a meeting at Rose Glen Village in Wilkesboro, also recognizes SAFE, Inc. as the lead agency in the development of the center. Organizers say an accredited child advocacy center will improve care for sexually abused children who are currently carted off to Winston-Salem or Statesville for investigative interviews and medical exams. Accredited child advocacy centers bring medical services, counseling and victim advocacy together all under one roof. The center will also provide a continuum of care not currently available locally under one roof. Counseling and victim advocacy services will be available to victims and non-offending family members after initial investigations are completed. The move to establish an accredited child advocacy center in Wilkes began in March when SAFE brought together representatives of Wilkes Regional Medical Center, law enforcement, the Department of Social Services and the District Attorney’s office to discuss the community’s response to sexual assaults. Participants identified a need to improve care for sexually abused children. SAFE is currently seeking start-up funding for the center, and they hope to start serving clients in 2013 under a provisional license. Preliminary data indicates more than 100 Wilkes County children a year may be victims of sexual abuse. SAFE offers free, confidential help with domestic violence and sexual assault situations 24 hours a day at (336) 838-SAFE (838-7233).