The Utah County Commission passed a resolution Wednesday in support of the Utah County Children’s Justice Center and declared April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is recognized nationally.

Utah has children’s justice centers throughout the state with Utah County having two locations — one in Provo and another in American Fork that is opening at the end of the month.

Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner said these centers differ from other justice centers due to children being at risk for re-traumatization during investigations.

“So a children’s justice center is set up to look like a home,” she said. “The waiting room looks like a living room. It has toys, it has books. They do investigations during play time.”

Powers Gardner said personnel at the centers are trained in child and forensic psychology to ensure that when children are being interviewed, they aren’t being traumatized or being led into making false statements.

“They (children’s justice centers) are really places that not just the child that’s been abused can get help but also those around them,” she said, adding that they also provide support for guardians or caretakers on how to care for a child.

According to the resolution, the local center served nearly 4,000 victims in 2023, facilitating hundreds of forensic interviews, medical exams, follow-ups and mental health screenings.

“We, the Utah County Commission, recommit to ensuring that every child grows up in a safe, nurturing environment that is free from abuse and neglect,” the resolution reads.

Of the about 4,000 victims served, 1,861 were primary victims of child abuse, with the remaining being “secondary victims” such as a sibling or a caretaker who may also need support.

“The idea is to get justice for the child and ensure that we have all of the information we need to prosecute a predator, but also get them the help and support that they and their family need to try to break the cycle and not have that trauma continue on in our communities,” Powers Gardner said.

According to the Policy Project, a nonprofit advocacy group, 1 in 7 Utah children are sexually abused before they turn 18. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services states that Utah’s rate of physical child abuse is higher than the national rate.

During the County Commission meeting, Heather Allen, associate director of the Utah County Children’s Justice Center, thanked the community and the county for their support of the center and for getting a second location running.

“This building has been provided by the community through donations and grants. … So thank you so much for making this possible,” Allen said.

Powers Gardner said the commission chose to do the resolution as part of Child Abuse Prevention Month and also to recognize the new justice center that will be opening this month.

She said the resolution also is to “amplify” community voices who are already stepping up and tackling the issue. The county’s second children’s justice center will host a ribbon-cutting and tours at 11 a.m. April 27 at 96 S. 100 East in American Fork.

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