(April 13, 2017) Representatives from the Cricket Center and the Worcester County Commission on Aging appeared before the Berlin Town Council Monday night to make made separate requests for inclusion in the fiscal year 2018 budget.
Cricket Center Program Director Wendy Myers said one in five boys and one in three girls would experience sexual abuse before they turn 18, according to recent statistics. The center works to prosecute child sexual abuse in the county by collaborating with social services, law enforcement, child-protective services, the Worcester County State’s Attorney, Atlantic General Hospital and Life Crisis.
Myers said the center served 96 children last year and provided 512 hours of trauma therapy. Activities at the center directly led to 21 arrests and 179 years of jail time, she said.
The annual Cricket Center Walk The Boards for Kids event in Ocean City, both a fundraiser and awareness drive, is scheduled for Monday, April 30.
Roberta Baldwin, director of Worcester County Social Services, thanked the council for its support. The town has partially funded the center through an annual grant for a number of years.
“To see a child enter the center and feel comfortable enough to tell a story about a very horrific experience that they’ve had, and to be able to see them … feel empowered is an amazing thing,” she said. “Certainly the support that you offer to the agency helps us to continue to do that.”
Councilman Dean Burrell underscored the importance of the center.
“On behalf of the Town Council and the citizens of Berlin – and Worcester County in general – we would like to thank you,” Burrell said. “Thank you for the service that you provide to our children and [for] keeping them safe.”
Rob Hart, executive director of the Worcester County Commission on Aging, said he recently sent a letter to Town Administrator Laura Allen asking for funding assistance for daily activities. The commission operates four senior centers in the county, including one in Berlin, which Hart called the most active center in the county.
“I like to think that we’re the front line for seniors,” Hart said. “If they have an issue, they can call us and we’re going to be able to answer that.”
Hart asked the Pocomoke City Council for $1,500 last month. He requested $2,500 from Berlin.
According to Hart, the Berlin center serves about 93 seniors each month, but operates mainly with a volunteer workforce. Last year, the commission received $90,000 from Worcester County, and Hart said he would increase the annual request to $110,000 to hire a full-time staffer.
The town will hold its first budget session of the year on Monday, April 17 at town hall, starting at 5:30 p.m.
For more information on the Cricket Center, visit www.thecricketcenter.com.
For more information on the Worcester County Commission on Aging, visit www.worcoa.org.
Cricket Center Program Director Wendy Myers said one in five boys and one in three girls would experience sexual abuse before they turn 18, according to recent statistics. The center works to prosecute child sexual abuse in the county by collaborating with social services, law enforcement, child-protective services, the Worcester County State’s Attorney, Atlantic General Hospital and Life Crisis.
Myers said the center served 96 children last year and provided 512 hours of trauma therapy. Activities at the center directly led to 21 arrests and 179 years of jail time, she said.
The annual Cricket Center Walk The Boards for Kids event in Ocean City, both a fundraiser and awareness drive, is scheduled for Monday, April 30.
Roberta Baldwin, director of Worcester County Social Services, thanked the council for its support. The town has partially funded the center through an annual grant for a number of years.
“To see a child enter the center and feel comfortable enough to tell a story about a very horrific experience that they’ve had, and to be able to see them … feel empowered is an amazing thing,” she said. “Certainly the support that you offer to the agency helps us to continue to do that.”
Councilman Dean Burrell underscored the importance of the center.
“On behalf of the Town Council and the citizens of Berlin – and Worcester County in general – we would like to thank you,” Burrell said. “Thank you for the service that you provide to our children and [for] keeping them safe.”
Rob Hart, executive director of the Worcester County Commission on Aging, said he recently sent a letter to Town Administrator Laura Allen asking for funding assistance for daily activities. The commission operates four senior centers in the county, including one in Berlin, which Hart called the most active center in the county.
“I like to think that we’re the front line for seniors,” Hart said. “If they have an issue, they can call us and we’re going to be able to answer that.”
Hart asked the Pocomoke City Council for $1,500 last month. He requested $2,500 from Berlin.
According to Hart, the Berlin center serves about 93 seniors each month, but operates mainly with a volunteer workforce. Last year, the commission received $90,000 from Worcester County, and Hart said he would increase the annual request to $110,000 to hire a full-time staffer.
The town will hold its first budget session of the year on Monday, April 17 at town hall, starting at 5:30 p.m.
For more information on the Cricket Center, visit www.thecricketcenter.com.
For more information on the Worcester County Commission on Aging, visit www.worcoa.org.