After 25 years as an organization, Liberty House received its accreditation from the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) on January 31.
Liberty House opened its doors in 1999 and serves as the Child Advocacy Center for Marion and Polk counties. They specialize in providing medical services for children who have experienced serious harm. Accreditation from the NCA is the gold standard for Children’s Advocacy Centers, giving a significant boost to the nonprofit organization.
“We are dedicated to providing trauma specialists to children who have experienced physical abuse, sexual abuse, human trafficking, neglect, and those who have witnessed violence, sometimes among their caregivers,” said Allison Kelley, executive director of Liberty House. “Our pediatricians help children with checkups and manage their emotions. All of these services are crucial, as we collaborate with other professionals dedicated to maintaining child safety.”
The accreditation has been a long time coming, as Liberty House envisioned this milestone a decade ago.
“We understood that this would be a difficult path, requiring rigorous adherence to the highest standards of care,” Liberty House stated in a press release. “Our commitment was based on a simple truth: children and families suffering from the trauma of abuse deserve the best. We believed that, through collective action, extraordinary things could be achieved.”
The site reviewers who granted the accreditation were so impressed with Liberty House that they ranked it among the top five out of 500 organizations they have evaluated.
“NCA accreditation is more than just a badge of honor; it is a powerful statement of our commitment to excellence,” Liberty House stated. “Earning accreditation means that Liberty House meets the most rigorous standards for child abuse intervention, ensuring that we adhere to best practices in child-centered care, multidisciplinary collaboration, trauma-informed care, and data-driven decision-making.”
Kelley has been with the organization for 11 years, during which time Liberty House has served 11,000 children. This year, Liberty House opened a second satellite location in Woodburn, expanding its capacity to assist children in need.
“Any activity involving children comes with a great responsibility,” Kelley said. “We invite children to describe what they’ve experienced to a medical professional they don’t know. We have to make sure we’re providing the best care possible.”
As an accredited NCA member, Liberty House will now have access to valuable resources, including professional development, training programs, and collaboration opportunities with other NCA-accredited organizations across the country.
“Just achieving accreditation is an accomplishment. We’ve had many conversations about how we would be recognized, and accreditation was one of those key avenues,” said Eva Corbin, president of the Liberty House Board of Directors. “I think this will make people see us more favorably. The priority is ensuring that children receiving treatment at Liberty House receive the care they need to heal and improve their lives. Our presence in Oregon, especially in Marion and Polk counties, reflects how children who are suffering should be treated: they should never be turned away, no matter who they are or where they come from.”
The accreditation also highlights the dedication and collaboration between the Oregon Department of Human Services, local law enforcement, and the Marion and Polk County District Attorney’s Office.
“Child abuse investigations are difficult,” Kelley said. “We know that first responders often face very distressing and sometimes extremely dangerous situations in the course of their work. The tragedy is that child abuse is largely preventable. That’s why we launched prevention education services, offering free training in Marion and Polk counties to help adults learn how to keep children safe.”
Liberty House is one of 24 Child Advocacy Centers in Oregon and a member of the statewide professional organization Oregon Child Abuse Solutions. Only about 54% of the centers in the state are accredited.